The invention is directed to a device (1) and a process for dissolving a gas into a liquid like carbonating a water based beverage, comprising a pump (4) for the liquid, a mixing venture nozzle (8) with a main inlet (10) fluidly connected to the pump (4), at least one side inlet (14) connectable to a source of pressurized gas (6), and an outlet. The device (1) comprises also a conical flow restrictor (24) fluidly downstream of the mixing venture nozzle (8), and a pipe (20) of a length of at least 0.5 m fluidly interconnected between the mixing venture nozzle (8) and the flow restrictor (24).

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 carbonation machine with integrated water treatment. The carbonation machine may include a carbonation system for carbonating water in a bottle attached to a carbonation head of the system, a detachable water reservoir, configured to be mounted on a base with an outlet port to allow outward flow of water from the reservoir, piping connecting the outlet port of the water reservoir to transfer water from the detachable reservoir and to pour the water into the bottle, a pump for pumping water out of the water reservoir and transfer the pumped water via the piping, a controller configured to control the pump, and one or more water treatment components fluidically connected to the piping to apply water treatment to water flowing through the piping.

A hydrogen gas dissolving apparatus 1 has a hydrogen supply unit 2 capable of supplying hydrogen gas, and a hydrogen gas dissolution module 6 for bringing the hydrogen gas supplied from the hydrogen supply unit 2 in contact with and dissolved in water. The hydrogen gas dissolution module 6 has a supply port 62 to which the hydrogen gas is supplied, a hydrogen chamber 63 communicating with the supply port 62 and filled with the hydrogen gas supplied from the supply port 62, and an exhaust port 64 communicating with the hydrogen chamber 63 and discharging the air in the hydrogen chamber 63. The exhaust port 64 is located in a lower part of the hydrogen chamber 63.

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 assembly for selectively aerating a beverage. The assembly includes a body, a diverter movable between first, second, and third positions, and an aerator in fluid communication with the diverter, the aerator including a central outlet and aeration outlets. When the diverter is in the first position, the diverter is positioned such that the beverage flows through the body and the central outlet while bypassing the aeration outlets. When the diverter is in the second position, the diverter is positioned such that the beverage flows through the aeration outlets while bypassing the central outlet. When the diverter is in the third position, the diverter is positioned such that the beverage flows through the body, a first portion of the beverage flows through the central outlet while bypassing the aeration outlets, and a second portion of the beverage flows through the aeration outlets while bypassing the central outlet.

A device for automatically and selectively dispensing multiple additives into a base liquid is disclosed, where each additive is dispensed by a control mechanism that effectively shuts off and is self-cleaning. In one embodiment, each additive is provided through a channel comprising a tube, a check disk, and a fulcrum. When the pressure of a particular additive increases above a threshold, a flexure is created in the check disk, which causes an opening that allows the additive to enter a main channel where it is mixed with a base liquid. When the pressure of the liquid additive is decreased below the threshold, the check disk reverts to its original form and the additive is no longer dispensed into the base liquid. Thereafter, the base liquid cleanses the mechanism.

A sparkling water maker capable of automatically controlling gas inflow includes a gas cylinder, a gas cylinder connector mounted on the gas cylinder, a bottle, and a bottle connector mounted on the bottle. A gas guide tube is connected between the gas cylinder connector and the bottle connector. A compressed gas in the gas cylinder is delivered to the bottle through the gas guide tube. The gas guide tube includes a first gas guide tube connected to the gas cylinder connector and a second gas guide tube connected to the bottle connector. A valve is connected between the first gas guide tube and the second gas guide tube. The valve is configured to block a flow passage between the first gas guide tube and the second gas guide tube.

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.

A method for making a customized beverages in a beverage maker is provided using a filtered water system for processing pressurized potable water. The filter system is monitored to allow for certification of a filter system performance for a claimed contaminant reduction up through 320 gallons of use while providing NSF/ANSI Standard 42 or NSF/ANSI Standard 53 health claims when operated at a flow rate of at least 0.50 gallons per minute (gpm).