Heat exchanges for dispensing sub-zero beer

Abstract

A heat exchanger ( 10 ) comprises a coolant line ( 11 ) and a beverage line ( 13 ), embedded in a solid block of Aluminium ( 15 ). The coolant line ( 11 ) is in the form of a first helical coil defining a plurality of turns typically located in the centre of the block. The beverage line ( 13 ) is in the form of a second helical coil defining a plurality of turns extending around the first coil. The coolant line defines a cold zone ( 12 ), typically in the centre of the block, with the volume outside the central zone carrying the beverage line ratio defining an designated beverage cooling zone ( 14 ). The volume ratio of the designated zone to the cold zone is about 150:100. The heat exchanger allows for cooling of beer to precise temperatures and even temperatures close to freezing point, using direct expanded Freon refrigeration methods. The complete system including the refrigeration equipment to be packaged into a small area, such as is available under bars and dispensing counters etc., which removes the need for large installations and the associated costs and maintenance of the same. In a variant an additional beverage cooling zone may be located inside the cold zone. The positions of the coolant and beverage lines may also be reversed in certain applications.

1 . A heat exchanger comprising a coolant line and a beverage line embedded in a solid block of a material having a high thermal conductivity with the coolant line in the form of a first coil defining a plurality of turns, and the beverage line in the form of a second coil defining a plurality of turns and extending around the first coil. 
     
     
         2 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the coolant line defines a cold zone in the centre of the block, with the volume outside the zone carrying the beverage line defining a designated beverage cooling zone. 
     
     
         3 . A heat exchanger comprising a coolant line and a beverage line embedded in a solid block of a material having a high thermal conductivity with the beverage line in the form of a first coil having a plurality of turns being located in the centre of the block and defining a designated beverage cooling zone and the coolant line in the form of a second coil defining a plurality of turns and extending around the first coil and defining a cold zone. 
     
     
         4 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the volume ratio of the designated zone to the cold zone is about 150:100. 
     
     
         5 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the coils are in the form of helical coils. 
     
     
         6 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the coolant line comprises tubes arranged in a helical pattern and wherein the distance between adjacent turns in the coolant line is between 3 and 10 mm. 
     
     
         7 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the coolant line comprises tubes having a diameter between 6 to 13 mm. 
     
     
         8 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1  wherein tubes forming the beverage line are arranged in a helical pattern and wherein the distance between adjacent tubes in the beverage line is from 3 to 8 mm. 
     
     
         9 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the diameter of the tubes used in the beverage line is from 7 to 11 mm. 
     
     
         10 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the distance between the coolant tubes located in the cold zone and the beverage tubes located in the designated zone is from 2 to 6 mm. 
     
     
         11 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the angle between a plane defined by the beverage tube coils and a plane defined by coolant tube coils is between 80 and 110 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the coolant line carries a Freon refrigerant. 
     
     
         13 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2  wherein there are a plurality of beverage lines in the designated zone. 
     
     
         14 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 2  wherein there are a plurality of coolant lines in the cold zone. 
     
     
         15 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 1  when dependent on  claims 1  or  2 , wherein one or more additional lines pass through the first coil. 
     
     
         16 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the additional lines include one or more lines for cooling a secondary cooling media. 
     
     
         17 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the additional lines include one or more lines for cooling soft drinks, soda or the like. 
     
     
         18 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the additional lines are generally located in a central zone inside the cold zone. 
     
     
         19 . A heat exchanger as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the volume ratio of the central zone to the cold zone to the designated zone is about 150:100:150.