A beverage dispensing apparatus which includes a tank, a liquid inlet and a fluid dispensing system which includes a dispensing fluid conduit having a helical portion at least substantially vertically oriented within the interior volume of the tank. The beverage dispensing apparatus also includes a fluid circulating system that includes at least one fluid circulation conduit having an inlet portion positioned proximate the bottom portion of the tank and at least one outlet. A fluid cycling device is also included in the beverage dispensing apparatus and is configured to move fluid from the bottom portion of the tank to the fluid circulation conduit. The at least one outlet is configured to produce a fluid flow tangential to the orientation of the dispensing fluid conduit configuration. Evaporator coils extend around a perimeter of the tank's exterior sidewall surface and are configured to chill the fluid within the tank.

A variable pressure device to solubilize carbon dioxide (CO2) in a beverage includes: a carbonation tank, a CO2 inlet valve and a venting valve attached to the tank's top part; a discharge valve attached to the tank's bottom part; a booster pump arranged immediately after the discharge valve; a recycling valve arranged immediately after the booster pump, which is connected to a recycling inlet at the top part of the tank; an outlet between the pump and the recycling valve; a level sensor arranged on the lid of the tank; a CO2 inlet valve attached to a tank side near its top part; a modulating valve arranged after the CO2 inlet valve; a Venturi attached immediately after the modulating valve; a control point arranged between the modulating valve and the Venturi; and a beverage inlet valve into the tank attached immediately after the Venturi, which is formed by a pipeline.

A drink producing apparatus includes a dispensing unit for dispensing liquid, a dispensing container for receiving a liquid addable to a drink by the drink producing apparatus in a first liquid state, a conditioning container, in which the liquid can be conditioned into a second liquid state different from the first liquid state, a line device with a first line connection, wherein this first line connection is connected to the dispensing container and the dispensing unit, a second line connection connected to the dispensing container and the conditioning container, and comprises a recirculation line connection, wherein this recirculation line connection is connected to an input of the conditioning container and to an output of the conditioning container, wherein the line device comprises a line section, wherein this line section is a constituent of the first line connection and the second line connection and the recirculation line connection.

A system for the preparation of carbon-neutral carbonated beverages utilizing carbon-neutral carbon dioxide, comprising a storage vessel of pressurized (of at least about 120 psi) purified carbon dioxide, captured from ambient air or a mixture of ambient air with a minor proportion of flue gas effluent, by a process of adsorbing the carbon dioxide on a solid sorbent and separating and the carbon dioxide from the adsorbent using waste process heat, while regenerating the sorbent for further adsorption; a source of flowing potable aqueous liquid at a lower pressure than the storage vessel of carbon dioxide; a carbonator vessel in fluid flow connection with the source of flowing aqueous liquid and the storage vessel of pressurized, purified carbon dioxide, through suitable regulating valves to set the pressure in the carbonator dependent upon the temperature of the potable water; and dispensing means for passing carbonated liquid from the carbonator to a container for immediate consumption or to a sealed container for storage and subsequent use.

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 beverage dispensing apparatus including a storage tank. At least one ice body is formed proximate the top portion of the storage tank. The ice body is formed in an icemaker configured to produce an ice body through direct contact with an evaporator coil and does not use cold air, or formed directly on a portion of the top portion of the storage tank using evaporator coils extending around a perimeter of the storage tank. The water is then configured to be carbonated and then dispensed to a user upon a user command.

A carbonation machine includes a carbonation head to sealingly couple to a bottle filled with liquid to be carbonated; a piping to introduce and compress carbon dioxide into a space within the bottle above a top surface of the liquid to a predetermined pressure level when the bottle is coupled to the carbonation head; a stirrer to stir the liquid to enhance absorption of carbon dioxide in the liquid when the bottle is coupled to the carbonation head; and a manually operated valve mechanism configured to be moved to any position between a closed position to an open position for user-controlled release of pressure within the space.

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.

A mixed drink producing apparatus as well as to a household refrigeration apparatus with a mixed drink producing apparatus with a dispensing container, which is formed for receiving a liquid addable to a cooled mixed drink by the mixed drink producing apparatus and which is connected to a dispensing unit of the mixed drink producing apparatus for conducting the liquid from the dispensing container to the dispensing unit, wherein the mixed drink producing apparatus has a gas adding unit for adding carbonizing gas to the first liquid, and the mixed drink producing apparatus has at least one inline mixer, by which the carbonizing gas added to the liquid can be disintegrated. There is also described a method for producing a mixed drink.

A refrigerator and a control method thereof are provided. The refrigerator includes a carbonated water producing apparatus configured to produce carbonated water by supplying water and carbon dioxide gas to a carbonated water tank, a user interface configured to display information of carbonated water concentration, and a control unit configured to control the carbonated water producing apparatus to produce the carbonated water according to the information of carbonated water concentration, wherein the user interface displays a set concentration of the carbonated water and a present concentration of the carbonated water.