A carbonated water production unit for a refrigerator includes a coupler to which a container is coupled to be detachable, a cylinder configured to store carbon dioxide, a nozzle module configured to inject carbon dioxide into the container, a regulation member, a first valve, a second valve, a user interface which receives a command for production of carbonated water and an input of concentration of the carbonated water, and a controller which controls the first valve to supply water when the command for the production of carbonated water is input, determines information on injection of the carbon dioxide corresponding to the concentration of the carbonated water when the supply of water is completed, controls the regulation member to inject the carbon dioxide based on the determined information on the injection, and controls the second valve to regulate the pressure of the container when injection of the carbon dioxide is completed.

A method of producing a carbonated beverage comprising a blend of water and syrup having a predetermined final carbonation level. The method includes the steps of: introducing CO.sub.2 into a flowing stream of a product blend comprising water, syrup and dissolved oxygen, such that CO.sub.2 is dissolved in the product blend; deaerating the CO.sub.2-containing product blend by introducing the blend into a vented atmospheric vessel, the interior of which is at ambient pressure with a headspace maintained above the surface of the liquid within the vessel, whereby dissolved oxygen is released from the product blend and vented from the vessel; pumping the deaerated product blend from the vessel, wherein the deaerated blend includes dissolved CO.sub.2 at an intermediate carbonation level less than the final carbonation level; and carbonating the deaerated product blend to the final carbonation level downstream of the vented vessel to produce a carbonated beverage for subsequent packaging. A system for performing the method is also provided, as well as a method of producing a beverage using nitrogen deaeration.

A system for gas impregnation of a liquid includes a container for holding a product ingredient, a first still liquid conduit for conveying a still product including the ingredient, a gas cylinder providing a gas conduit with a compressed gas such as Nitrogen. The system includes two or more pressure chambers each having a corresponding liquid fill valve to control the flow of a still product filling the pressure chamber, and a gas diffuser for diffusing the compressed gas into the still product to produce a gas infused product. A multi-way valve in fluid communication with each of the pressure chambers directs the gas infused product from a selected one of the pressure chambers to a first charged product conduit for supplying a charged liquid dispenser, and blocks fluid from flowing from other, non-selected, ones of the pressure chambers. A method for using the subject system is also provided.

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.

The invention relates to a device for treating an aqueous liquid. The device comprises a gas providing unit (10) and a first gas line (20) connecting the gas providing unit (10) and a first liquid container (50), such that liquid residing in the first liquid container (50) can be pre-conditioned. The device comprises a conditioning unit (70) and a fluid line (40), wherein a first section of the fluid line (42) connects the first liquid container (50) and the conditioning unit (70). A second section of the fluid line (44) connects the conditioning unit (70) and the second liquid container (52). The device comprises a second gas line (28) connecting the gas providing unit (10) and the second liquid container (52), such that the gas is feedable in the second liquid container (52). The device is configured such that the gas is feedable in the liquid upstream of the conditioning unit (70) via the first gas line (20) and downstream of the conditioning unit (70) via the second gas line (28).

A mixing chamber for use in a beverage carbonation system is provided. In one embodiment, the mixing chamber includes a housing, an agitator, a motor assembly and a rigid plate. A housing of the agitator and a housing of the motor assembly can each include a set of magnetics disposed therein and magnetically coupled so as to provide magnetic coupling between the motor assembly and the agitator. The mixing chamber is configured to receive a gas, such as carbon dioxide, and a liquid, such as water, to form a carbonated fluid. The carbonated fluid can be dispensed from the beverage carbonation system as a beverage.

The invention relates to the food industry. A method of saturating a beverage with CO2 comprises supplying the liquid and the gas under pressure, increasing the mass transfer surface, intensively mixing the components in a chamber, and subsequently feeding them into a storage tank. The mass transfer surface is increased abruptly prior to mixing by converting the liquid to a moist saturated vapor state, and the vapor-gas mixture is condensed before feeding into the storage tank. Also described is a device for saturating a beverage with CO2, which device is in the form of a water-air ejector.

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.

Described herein is a beverage system that is configured to produce beverages having different characteristics, such as different levels of carbonation including producing substantially non-carbonated beverages and carbonated beverages with a single machine. The beverage system includes a beverage appliance and a beverage container. The beverage container includes a beverage material, which can include a flavoring ingredient for a target beverage. The beverage appliance is used to access the beverage material from the beverage container and produce the target beverage. The beverage appliance and beverage container are adaptable to produce the target beverage having any of a range of carbonation levels or other characteristics.

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.