An approach for treating a fluid transport conduit with ultraviolet radiation is disclosed. A light guiding unit, operatively coupled to a set of ultraviolet radiation sources, encloses the fluid transport conduit. The light guiding unit directs ultraviolet radiation emitted from the ultraviolet radiation sources to ultraviolet transparent sections on an outer surface of the fluid transport conduit. The emitted ultraviolet radiation passes through the ultraviolet transparent sections, penetrates the fluid transport conduit and irradiates the internal walls. A control unit adjusts a set of operating parameters of the ultraviolet radiation sources as a function of the removal of contaminants from the internal walls of the fluid transport conduit.

A safety device allows selective opening or closing of a drain opening of a tank, to render such action more difficult for a child. The device has a body, a plug, a means for restricting axial movement of the plug in a conduit that runs through the body, and, optionally, a tether. The conduit is adapted for engagement in the drain opening. The plug is frictionally engaged in the conduit. The means for restricting axial movement has complementary elements disposed on the plug and on the body, such that, in a first rotational position, the plug is axially retained relative to the conduit and, in a second rotational position, the plug is not restricted from axial movement out of the conduit. The tether attaches to the plug and the body to keep the plug proximate to the body.

A method prepares and dispenses a beverage with a dispensing device. The device includes a housing with a beverage unit having a liquid line, a pressure controller to control liquid line pressure, and an ingredient container receiving means. The content of the ingredient container is in fluid communication with a liquid line to mix the ingredient container contents with a base liquid in the liquid line. The device further includes an ingredient container identification unit and a processor coupled for controlling the pressure controller. The method includes providing an ingredient container in the device, identifying the ingredient container, providing a base liquid, and mixing the contents of the ingredient container with the base liquid dispensing the prepared beverage. The pressure in the liquid line changes from a first pressure level to a second pressure level by the pressure controller during mixing and dispensing of the beverage.

A method prepares and dispenses a beverage with a dispensing device. The device includes a housing with a beverage unit having a liquid line, a pressure controller to control liquid line pressure, and an ingredient container receiving means. The content of the ingredient container is in fluid communication with a liquid line to mix the ingredient container contents with a base liquid in the liquid line. The device further includes an ingredient container identification unit and a processor coupled for controlling the pressure controller. The method includes providing an ingredient container in the device, identifying the ingredient container, providing a base liquid, and mixing the contents of the ingredient container with the base liquid dispensing the prepared beverage. The pressure in the liquid line changes from a first pressure level to a second pressure level by the pressure controller during mixing and dispensing of the beverage.

A keg cleaning system and method is provided. The keg cleaning system and method is operable to first pump a fluid cleaner through an intake of a keg coupler and into a keg at a high pressure. The liquid cleaner is pumped into the keg for a short period of time. After the liquid cleaner has been pumped into the keg, CO2 or air is then pumped through the intake of the keg coupler and into the keg at a high pressure for a short period of time. The liquid cleaner is then forced out of a keg coupler exhaust. The steps are repeated until the inside of the keg is clean. Due to the repeated surges from the pump and the surges from the air or CO2 the inside of the keg is thoroughly cleaned.

A keg cleaning system and method is provided. The keg cleaning system and method is operable to first pump a fluid cleaner through an intake of a keg coupler and into a keg at a high pressure. The liquid cleaner is pumped into the keg for a short period of time. After the liquid cleaner has been pumped into the keg, CO2 or air is then pumped through the intake of the keg coupler and into the keg at a high pressure for a short period of time. The liquid cleaner is then forced out of a keg coupler exhaust. The steps are repeated until the inside of the keg is clean. Due to the repeated surges from the pump and the surges from the air or CO2 the inside of the keg is thoroughly cleaned.

Cooler control system for a beverage dispense system 1 having a beverage line (2) extending from a beverage source to a dispense site via a cooler (6). The cooler control system comprises: a controller (51) for adjusting the cooling of the beverage line; a flow rate sensor (41) measuring the flow rate in the beverage line, a temperature sensor (40); and an electronic control unit (31) for receiving a signal from the temperature sensor and/or the flow rate sensor and sending a signal to said controller. Cooler monitoring system comprising: at least one sensor (45) for monitoring energy consumption of the cooler (6); and an electronic control unit for receiving a signal from the at least one energy consumption sensor and for sending a signal to a remote location when energy consumption increases above a predetermined maximum value.

Cooler control system for a beverage dispense system 1 having a beverage line (2) extending from a beverage source to a dispense site via a cooler (6). The cooler control system comprises: a controller (51) for adjusting the cooling of the beverage line; a flow rate sensor (41) measuring the flow rate in the beverage line, a temperature sensor (40); and an electronic control unit (31) for receiving a signal from the temperature sensor and/or the flow rate sensor and sending a signal to said controller. Cooler monitoring system comprising: at least one sensor (45) for monitoring energy consumption of the cooler (6); and an electronic control unit for receiving a signal from the at least one energy consumption sensor and for sending a signal to a remote location when energy consumption increases above a predetermined maximum value.

Consumption safety and quality assurance features for fluid mixture dispensing systems, such as a beverage dispensing device, are disclosed. A disclosed beverage dispensing device includes a final dispense chamber and a dispenser for the final dispense chamber. The beverage dispensing device is configured to mix a beverage and store the beverage in the final dispense chamber prior to a final dispense of the beverage from the beverage dispensing device. The beverage dispensing device is further configured to determine at least one parameter of the beverage. The dispenser is locked if the at least one parameter does not satisfy an expected standard and unlocked if the at least one parameter does satisfy the expected standard. The expected standard can be a safety standard or a quality standard.

Consumption safety and quality assurance features for fluid mixture dispensing systems, such as a beverage dispensing device, are disclosed. A disclosed beverage dispensing device includes a final dispense chamber and a dispenser for the final dispense chamber. The beverage dispensing device is configured to mix a beverage and store the beverage in the final dispense chamber prior to a final dispense of the beverage from the beverage dispensing device. The beverage dispensing device is further configured to determine at least one parameter of the beverage. The dispenser is locked if the at least one parameter does not satisfy an expected standard and unlocked if the at least one parameter does satisfy the expected standard. The expected standard can be a safety standard or a quality standard.