A liquid pressure-reducing unit having a first half body with a contact surface and first groove extending over the contact surface is disclosed. The unit has a flexible resilient sealing element having a floor layer lining the floor of the first groove. The unit has a second half body with a contact surface and first and second walls extending out of the contact surface and defining a second groove. The contact surfaces of the first half body and second half body join, wherein the first and second walls penetrate into the first groove so that the free end of the first and second walls forms a fluid-tight contact with the flexible resilient floor layer lining the floor of the first groove, defining a fluid-tight channel bringing in fluid communication a fluid inlet with a fluid outlet. The channel is non-rectilinear and/or having a cross-section varying over the length thereof.

A fluid line monitoring and control assembly for detecting foaming and terminating flow in a beverage line includes a valve and a flow meter, which are insertable in-line with a conduit connecting a storage vessel to a dispensing tap, and a controller. The valve and the flow meter both are positioned proximate to the storage vessel. The valve can close the conduit to prevent flow of a beverage therethrough. The flow meter generates a voltage signal with flow of the beverage therethrough and sends the voltage signal to a controller. The controller is programmed with an algorithm that enables the controller to evaluate the voltage signal for a change in one or more of magnitude, stability, and frequency to determine if the beverage has changed between a liquid state and a foam state, whereupon the controller actuates the valve to close the beverage line.

Portable keg cooling units, systems, and methods are described. In some examples, a portable keg cooling unit comprises a cabinet having a temperature-controlled inner compartment configured to house and cool a keg and its contents, a dispenser for dispensing beverage from the keg, and a chiller unit operable to cool beverage extracted from the keg, to ensure the beverage is at an optimal desired temperature when it reaches the dispenser to minimize undesirable foaming.

Beverage dispensing nozzles and methods are described, including structures and mechanisms for selectively purging desaturated gas from the nozzle before dispensing, for ensuring beverage in the nozzle is maintained and dispensed at an optimal desired temperature, for disinfecting beverage-contacting surfaces, and for electronically activating a pour, among other things.

A beverage mixing and dispensing system and a dispensing font device and/or dispensing tap configured to dispense a drink (D) from a mixture of at least a first main liquid (F.sub.1) and of a second liquid (F.sub.2) by use of one or more electrical pumps, one or more propellants, one or more regulators, one or more valves, one or more gas or liquid flow regulators and one or more control units operatively connected to enable operation and flow of liquids and propellants from one or more containers containing the liquids when dispensing the drink (D) via one or more beverage dispensing font devices and/or dispensing taps.

A soda carbonation and dispensation system and method are provided. The system includes a carbonated water pump and motor assembly operable to draw fresh water into carbonator tanks and circulate the water through a chiller system. A carbon dioxide source is connected to the carbonator tanks to produce carbonated water. The system also includes a water level sensor connected to a controller, a plurality of syrup containers, a syrup pump, syrup regulator valves, a brix capacitor, a dispensing tower and faucets connected to the dispensing tower housing. The controller operates the water pump and motor assembly to maintain a water level within a predetermined range and to maintain continuous flow and refrigeration of the carbonated water, which optimizes carbonation. The brix capacitor receives chilled carbonated water and chilled syrup in separate lines. Carbonated water is circulated to the faucets through a manifold in the brix capacitor and then circulated back into the carbonator tanks. Valves are provided in the brix capacitor to manipulate carbonated water and syrup flow rates and pressures into the faucets. The system maintains the carbonated water and syrup at a refrigerated temperature and a predetermined maximum pressure. When a faucet is opened, the carbonated water and syrup mix as they flow laminarly into a container. The result is consistently optimum carbonation when the beverage is dispensed.