The invention relates to a carbonized water dispensing device (1) provided with a carbonized water conditioning chamber (2), which conditioning chamber (2) is provided downstream of the carbonator (7) and upstream of the carbonized water dispensing outlet (5), for receiving a mixture of carbonized water mixed with unresolved CO2, which conditioning chamber (2) is dimensioned to hold a single serve of carbonized water with a headspace, and which carbonized water conditioning chamber (2) is provided with an outlet valve (17) and a gas outlet (18). According to the invention, the carbonized water dispensing device (1) is configured to, upon receiving a beverage dispensing order, provide the empty carbonized water conditioning chamber (2) with a single serve volume of carbonized water, and hold the single serve of carbonized water prior to dispensing the single serve volume of carbonized water.

A system for carbonating a personalized beverage may comprise a base container including at least one sidewall defining a liquid storage area, and a carbon dioxide storage member configured to be sealingly coupled to said base container. The system may further comprise a carbon dioxide cartridge configured to selectively release carbon dioxide when engaged with said carbon dioxide storage member, and wherein said carbon dioxide storage member further comprises a pressure regulator configured to, when actuated, release the said carbon dioxide from said carbon dioxide cartridge at a rate configured to carbonate a beverage within said liquid storage over a period of time greater than 6 hours and less than 36 hours.

A batch gasification assembly comprises a pressure vessel having an open end and being configured to contain a beverage to be carbonated and a flexible seal that covers the open end of the pressure vessel. A closure mechanism for the pressure vessel comprises a retainer configured to receive and retain the open end of the pressure vessel, a top cap, and an over-center clamping mechanism that is configured to clamp the top cap onto the open end of the pressure vessel so that the flexible seal member is sandwiched between the top cap and the open end of the pressure vessel.

A beverage machine has a gas dissolution assembly that includes a pressure vessel having an open end and a top cap that couples with the open end of the pressure vessel. The top cap has a gas inlet through which a gas to be infused into the beverage flows. A clamping mechanism clamps the top cap onto the open end of the pressure vessel. A gas infusing device that is coupled to the gas inlet has a porous element that infuses the gas into the beverage.

Disclosed herein is a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a purified water tank to store water, a flow sensor to detect an amount of water supplied to the purified water tank, a purified water supply valve to open/close a purified water supply flow path to guide water stored in the purified water tank to the carbonated water tank, a carbonated water discharge valve to open/close a carbonated water discharge flow path to guide the carbonated water to the outside of the refrigerator, and a controller to detect a position where water leakage occurs by sequentially opening the purified water supply valve and the carbonated water discharge valve in a water leakage mode.

Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A carbon dioxide source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate carbon dioxide gas that is dissolved into the precursor liquid. A beverage medium, such as a powdered drink mix or liquid syrup, may be provided in the same, or a separate cartridge as the carbon dioxide source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the carbon dioxide source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making carbonated beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.

A refrigerator having a carbonated water production module integrally provided with a carbon dioxide gas cylinder having carbon dioxide gas stored therein and a carbonated water tank to mix purified water with the carbon dioxide gas to produce carbonated water. The carbonated water production module is mounted to the rear surface of the door, and thus it may be cooled by cool air in the refrigeration compartment and be easy to access, and thereby repair and replacement thereof is facilitated. The dispenser includes a carbonated water discharge channel into which carbonated water from the carbonated water tank is discharged, and a purified water discharge channel into which purified water from the water tank is discharged. Since the purified water discharge channel does not pass through the carbonated water tank, a user is allowed to selectively dispense purified water or carbonated water anytime.

Disclosed herein is a refrigerator capable of producing carbonated water and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a carbonated water tank to store carbonated water a carbon dioxide gas supply valve to open/close a carbon dioxide gas flow path to guide carbon dioxide gas from a carbon dioxide gas cylinder to the carbonated water tank, and a carbonated water tank pressure sensor to detect an internal pressure of the carbonated water tank.

A batch carbonation apparatus includes a housing defining a vessel cavity. The housing includes an agitation mechanism. The pressure vessel includes a cap that has a CO2 inlet and a CO2 outlet is provided. The pressure vessel also includes a seal. The pressure vessel is moveable into an out of the vessel cavity. A locking mechanism is provided and is attached to the agitation mechanism to removably lock the cap and seal relative to the pressure vessel. A CO2 source is connected to a plurality of valves where each valve has a differing pressure. A selection toggle is attached to the housing. A control mechanism is coupled to the plurality of valves. A user selects a desired carbonation level using the selection toggle and CO2 is introduced to the pressure vessel at a specified pressure wherein the agitation mechanism agitates liquid within the pressure vessel forming a carbonated beverage having a selected carbonation level. Also disclosed is a process of forming a carbonated beverage in a batch.

There is provided a mixing device (2) for a beverage and CO2 gas for producing carbonated beverage. The mixing device (2) having a mixing channel (4) extending in a main direction (10). The mixing channel (4) includes: wide channel sections (16) and narrow channel sections (18) along the main direction (10). The mixing channel (4) has an elongated cross section seen in a direction perpendicular to the main direction (10). At least a first delimiting surface (22) of the mixing channel (4) is provided with protrusions (20) extending at least partially along the first delimiting surface (22) in a direction across the mixing channel (4) and protruding towards a second delimiting surface (24) of the mixing channel (4) to form the narrow channel sections (18). A turbulent flow of beverage is created by the narrow and wide channel sections. Further a carbonator for producing carbonated beverage, an appliance having a carbonator, and a method of producing a carbonated beverage are provided.