A beverage dispensing system includes an infusion unit and a dispensing station. The infusion unit is to mix a liquid beverage product and a gas to produce a gas-infused liquid beverage product. The infusion unit includes a first infusion unit inlet to receive the liquid beverage product, a second infusion unit inlet to receive the gas, and a first infusion unit outlet to output the gas-infused liquid beverage product. The dispensing station includes a first valve, coupled to the first outlet of the infusion unit, to receive and dispense the gas-infused liquid beverage product. The dispensing station further includes a second valve to receive and dispense the liquid beverage product.

Methods and devices for dispensing a cooled beverage are provided. One embodiment of methods includes the steps of mixing a diluent and a concentrate to make a diluted solution. The diluted solution is carbonated to yield a carbonated solution. The carbonated solution is cooled to below 0? C. to produce the cooled beverage, and the cooled beverage is dispensed through a nozzle. A device for dispensing a cooled beverage, where the cooled beverage comprises a diluent having a freezing point at STP includes an upstream cooler that pre-cools a supply of diluent to a temperature above the freezing point. A mixer mixes the pre-cooled diluent with a concentrate to make a diluted solution. A downstream cooler further cools the diluted solution to below the freezing point. A dispenser dispenses the downstream-cooled solution to atmosphere. The temperature of the cooled beverage is below the freezing point when dispensed.

In a method for infusing a gas from a gas source into a liquid beverage, liquid beverage is driven from a beverage container into a liquid inlet port of a venturi mixing device. Nitrogen is infused into the liquid beverage by driving nitrogen through a gas inlet port of the venturi mixing device, thereby delivering nitrogen-infused liquid beverage to a discharge port of the venturi mixing device. The nitrogen-infused liquid beverage is poured from the discharge port through a faucet.

An example method comprises receiving a control signal to open a first valve of a compressible liquid container within an airtight pressurized container, retrieving a first dispensing profile, each dispensing profile indicating at least one valve and, for each valve, a predetermined period of time for keeping a particular valve open, each of the valves controlling transport of contents a different compressible liquid container contained within the airtight pressurized container to a dispensing system, for each of the one or more valves identified in the first dispensing profile: opening the particular valve identified in the first dispensing profile for the particular predetermined period of time to transport contents over a first liquid transport conduit that is coupled to a particular releasable coupling and the particular valve, and closing the particular valve after the particular predetermined period of time to dispense an amount of contents of the particular compressible liquid container.

A drink station is provided with an alkaline filter cartridge in fluid communication with an ambient temperature water line provide alkaline water, and with a chilled water mixed with the alkaline water at a spigot to provide chilled alkaline water. A hot water heating element is located below the spigot so hot water flows upward for dispensing from the spigot, with a vent line between the heating element and spigot helping hot water to flow from the spigot to the heating element. A refrigeration system and a carbonation system is also provided. The refrigeration system uses the ice-bank technology. A submersible agitator pump improves heat exchanged between ice-bank and water by forced convection. The agitator pump operating based on the temperature of the drinking water. A figure eight evaporator coil can provide two cylindrical ice banks and two chilled water coils to increase the chilled water capacity.

Implementations of fluid modifying and dispensing systems may include a fluid modifying assembly having a fluid modification unit including a gas dosing unit configured to infuse a fluid with a gas, a filter configured to filter the fluid, and a pH regulator configured to modify a pH of the fluid. The fluid modifying assembly may include a temperature regulation system coupled to the fluid modification unit. The fluid modifying assembly may also include a dosing system coupled to the fluid modification unit. The dosing system may be configured to add one or more supplements to the fluid. The fluid modifying and dispensing system may include a fluid dispensing assembly having a faucet coupled to the fluid modifying assembly and a vessel having a lid and a base. The base of the vessel may be configured to couple directly to the faucet to fill the vessel with the fluid.

A dosing system including a dispensing tube to dispense a viscous liquid from a holding container to an output container, the tube includes an upper and a lower valve and a peristaltic pump to push against the dispensing tube and to cause the viscous liquid to open the lower valve.

Carbonation apparatus is provided for carbonating a mixed input flow of pressurized and refrigerated carbon dioxide and water. A first cartridge is disposed within the carbonation chamber, defining a porous micromesh net in fluid communication with the input flow and a central cavity in fluid communication with the carbonation chamber output port. The micromesh net is configured to break up chains of water molecules passing through the net, to enhance bonding between the water and carbon dioxide molecules within the cartridge. The net also responds to the flow of water and carbon dioxide molecules impacting and passing through the net by generating a passive polarizing field that has a polarizing influence on the water molecules to further enhance bonding. Beads may be provided within the cartridge for capturing and stabilizing carbon dioxide molecules to yet further enhance bonding between the water and the carbon dioxide molecules.

An inline gas/liquid infusion system featuring an electronic control logic and subsystem having a signal processor configured to: receive signaling containing information about a liquid pressure of an incoming liquid provided from a pump to an inline gas liquid absorption device and about a gas pressure of an incoming gas provided to the inline gas liquid absorption device; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to control the liquid pressure of the incoming liquid provided from the pump to the inline gas liquid absorption device in order to provide real time adjustable set point output levels of gas absorption in the inline gas liquid absorption device, based upon the signaling received.

The invention relates to a drink producing apparatus with a dispensing container, which is formed for receiving a first liquid addable to a drink by the drink producing apparatus and which is connected to a dispensing unit of the drink producing apparatus for conducting the liquid from the dispensing container to the dispensing unit, wherein a decompression chamber is formed between the dispensing container and the dispensing unit, in which the carbonized liquid can be expanded to a pressure lower compared to a pressure present before introduction into the decompression chamber, and the drink producing apparatus has an air supply unit, by which ambient air can be conveyed into the decompression chamber for generating the pressure in the decompression chamber. The invention also relates to a household refrigeration apparatus and a method.