In a method of carbonating a beverage using a carbon dioxide diffusing stone, temperature is measured in a flow of that beverage immediately before the flow changes from laminar to effervescent, thereby obtaining a true temperature at which carbon dioxide is diffused into the beverage. In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable controller having connectors joinable to a gas pressure regulator of a gas cylinder and to any one of several beverage carbonation containers. The portable controller has instruments therein for controlling a flow of carbon dioxide gas to the beverage in any one of the containers and for controlling a pressure gradient of the carbon dioxide gas in the beverage over a period of time. There is also provided an elongated carbon dioxide diffusing stone assembly having an elongated temperature probe well extending parallel to and immediately below a diffusing stone.

The present invention is directed towards a liquid drink dispensing apparatus. The apparatus comprises a gas generating component and a liquid drink dispensing component. The generated gas is supplied to the liquid drink dispensing component which infuses the generated gas into a liquid drink prior to dispensing the gas-infused liquid drink. The advantage of using a gas generating component is that the gas can be created on-site and no bottled gas needs to be used. This obviates the problems associated with purchasing, storing, using and replacing gas cylinders.

A refrigerator having a carbonated water production device, according to one concept of the present invention, comprises: a pressure regulator for adjusting and emitting the pressure of carbon dioxide emitted from a carbon dioxide cylinder; a solenoid switch valve for controlling the supply of the carbon dioxide discharged from the pressure regulator to a carbonated water tank; a connection channel for connecting the pressure regulator and the solenoid switch valve; and a relief valve arranged in the connection channel so as to discharge the carbon dioxide of the connection channel to the atmosphere if the pressure of the carbon dioxide of the connection channel is greater than a predetermined pressure limit. Thus, the pressure of the carbon dioxide of the connection channel is capable of being maintained at a predetermined pressure limit or less, and solenoid malfunction can be prevented so as to improve reliability and stability of a system.

This disclosure is related to a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same. The refrigerator includes a dispenser passage, a water supplier for supplying sterilizing water or rinsing water to the dispenser passage, a drain for draining the sterilizing water or the rinsing water that is supplied to the dispenser passage, and a controller for performing a sterilization cycle and controlling the water supplier and the drain to perform a rinsing cycle after completing the sterilization cycle, wherein the sterilization cycle is a cycle of keeping the sterilizing water in the dispenser passage and then draining the sterilizing water, and the rinsing cycle is a cycle of supplying the rinsing water to the dispenser passage and draining the rinsing water therefrom.

A nano-bubble water generating apparatus containing an application gas includes a motor, a pump integrated with the motor for supplying liquid, typically water, from an inlet pipe under a predetermined pressure through a supplying pipe to a pressure tank, a nano-bubble water generating tube mounted at the water entrance of a pressure tank, an electronic control portion, a pressure adjuster including an outer air inflowing portion to introduce an outer air or a specific gas supplied thereinto to control a pressure in the pressure tank, uniformly and a pressure adjusting portion airtightly coupled on the upper portion of the outer air inflowing portion to adjust an amount of outer air or specific gas to be supplied, and a nano-bubble water expanding tube for expanding and shattering nano-bubble water through an outlet pipe from the pressure tank, so that the size of the nano-bubble water is better micronized.

Systems, methods and cartridges for carbonating or otherwise dissolving gas in a precursor liquid, such as water, to form a beverage. A gas source can be provided in a cartridge which is used to generate 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 gas source and mixed with the precursor liquid to form a beverage. The use of one or more cartridges for the gas source and/or beverage medium may make for an easy to use and mess-free system for making sparkling beverages, e.g., in the consumer's home.

A system and method to supply nitrogen gas is provided. Ambient air is compressed and stored in a storage receiver and then nitrogen is separated from the compressed air in a nitrogen membrane separation unit. The separated nitrogen is stored in a nitrogen storage tank under pressure and released through a pressure control valve. The system is confined to a small footprint and is useful as a nitrogen source where conventional compressed nitrogen tanks are a safety or space issue. Systems to prepare nitrogen infused beverages are also provided.

A system features a controller having a signal processor configured to: receive signaling containing information about a liquid level of a gas infused liquid in a liquid/gas infusion tank/vessel, one or more gas input characteristics of a gas provided to the liquid/gas infusion tank/vessel, and one or more liquid input characteristics of an incoming non-infused liquid provided to the liquid/gas infusion tank/vessel; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to control a pump that provides the incoming non-infused liquid to the infusion tank/vessel on demand each time a beverage is dispensed with the gas infused liquid from the liquid/gas infusion tank/vessel and to maintain a desired liquid level and target equilibrium gas pressure in the liquid/gas infusion tank/vessel at a given temperature.

Fixed systems and method for extinguishing large scale industrial tank fires, with and without fixed roofs, and featuring aerated foam projecting nozzles and including fixed center directed nozzles.

Provided is a refrigerator including: a main body; a storage compartment formed in the main body; a door that opens/closes the storage compartment; a general water tank in which general water supplied from an external water supply source is stored; a mixing tank in which general water supplied from the general water tank is mixed with carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) so that carbonated water is made and stored; a dispenser that provides general water supplied from the general water tank to an outside and provides carbonated water supplied from the mixing tank to the outside of the refrigerator; and an ice-making machine that makes general ice by receiving general water from the external water supply source or the general water tank and makes carbonated ice by receiving carbonated water from the mixing tank, thereby providing general water, carbonated water, general ice, and carbonated ice through the dispenser.