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.

A system for mineralizing distilled water includes a splitter for splitting distilled water into primary and secondary portions; first and second conduits for conveying the primary and second portions, respectively; first and second columns comprising including first and second mineral matrices connected to the first and second conduits, respectively, to generate first and second mineralizing concentrate solutions; first and second mixing modules for combining a predefined amount of the mineralizing concentrate solutions with the primary portion of distilled water to form a mineralized water mixture; and a dispensing module for dispensing the mineralizing water mixture. A carbonator is also connected to the secondary conduit for dissolving carbon dioxide in the secondary portion of distilled water upstream of the first and second columns.

The invention includes components and methodology for fixed and semi-fixed systems for extinguishing fire in large industrial flammable liquid storage tanks, including aerated foam projecting nozzles discharging substantially focused streams together with aeration chambers and risers.

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 system and method of controlling a concentration of one or more gases dissolved in a beverage is included. The system includes a saturation tank having a gas head space, a brite tank, and a beverage supply system to pass the beverage between the saturation tank and the brite tank. A beverage supersaturated with the gas from the head space is formed in the saturation tank. The supersaturated beverage is passed from the saturation tank to the brite tank. Once the amount of gas added to the beverage exceeds saturation, some of the gas escapes from solution from the beverage and the pressure in the brite tank increases. Once the pressure within the brite tank reaches a pre-defined pressure, a pump supplying the beverage to the saturation tank is shut-off and the inlet and outlet valves of the brite tank are closed.

An in-line gas liquid infusion smart system, featuring a controller having a signal processer configured to receive signaling containing information about parameters or settings related to dispensing a non-infused liquid and a gas-infused mixture of gas and liquid from a dispense point; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to dispense the non-infused liquid and the gas-infused mixture from the dispense point, and also containing further information about the parameters or settings for providing to a remote controller for controlling, monitoring or troubleshooting the in-line gas liquid infusion smart system, based upon the signaling received.

An integrated infuser/mixer pump system features a liquid inlet configured to receive a liquid drawn from a liquid source, a gas inlet configured to receive an inlet gas from a gas source, a pump and motor combination configured to received the liquid and provide pumped liquid, a gas/liquid mixture chamber configured to receive the pumped liquid and the inlet gas, and mix the liquid and the inlet gas into a gas-infused mixture, and a gas-infused mixture outlet configured to provide the gas-infused mixture; the gas inlet having a gas liquid mixing valve with a mixing orifice that has a mixing orifice size dimensioned to provide the inlet gas to the gas/liquid mixture chamber with an inlet gas volumetric flow rate in order to mix the pumped liquid and the inlet gas with a predetermined mixture ratio that depends on the mixing orifice size.

A carbonation device for beverages includes a carbonation tank to receive a beverage to be carbonated and carbon dioxide so as to generate a carbonated beverage, carbonated with the carbon dioxide, and a dispensing device in fluid communication with the carbonation tank to dispense, through a duct, the carbonated beverage to a container for carbonated beverages, the carbonated beverage flowing along the duct in a flow direction.

The carbonation device further includes a carbonation sensor associated with the duct and having a radiation source to generate a radiation which strikes the duct along an irradiation direction incident to the flow direction.

The carbonation sensor also includes a first photodiode placed on the irradiation direction from a side opposite to the radiation source with respect to the duct, or as an alternative, a second photodiode placed along a diffusion direction substantially orthogonal to the irradiation direction.

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.

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.