A carbonated water dispenser comprises a carbonator with a water inlet and a carbonated water outlet. A backflow preventer module is fluidically coupled to the water inlet and comprises a check valve and a thermal mass flow meter. The thermal mass flow meter is configured to communicate a first signal based on a measured amount of heat transferred from a heater to a temperature sensor by a flow of a fluid through the backflow preventer module. A shut-off valve is fluidically coupled between the carbonated water outlet and a nozzle. The shut-off valve is configured to allow or prevent fluid flow from the carbonated water outlet to the nozzle base on a control signal. A controller is configured to detect a backflow condition based on the first signal and generate the control signal to configure the shut-off valve to prevent dispensing carbonated water upon detection of the backflow condition.

Beverage dispensers are disclosed. A beverage dispenser may include a carbonation pump, pressure tank, and a pressure switch configured to active the pressure pump when a pressure in the pressure tank falls below a threshold pressure. The pressure switch may cause the carbonation pump to shut off when the pressure in the pressure tank exceeds an upper threshold pressure. The beverage dispenser may be convertible from a carbonated beverage dispenser to a non-carbonated beverage dispenser.

A gas liquid absorption device (GLAD), featuring a gas inlet manifold, a liquid inlet manifold and a gas/liquid mixing foamer. The gas inlet manifold has a gas inlet configured to receive and provide an inlet gas, and also has a gas foamer cavity formed therein and coupled fluidically to the gas inlet to receive the inlet gas. The liquid inlet manifold has a liquid inlet configured to receive and provide a non-infused liquid, and also has a liquid foamer cavity formed therein and coupled fluidically to the liquid inlet to receive the non-infused liquid. The gas/liquid mixing foamer is configured between the gas inlet manifold and the liquid inlet manifold and arranged in the gas foamer cavity and the liquid foamer cavity. The gas/liquid mixing foamer has a gas foamer wall configured to form a gas receiving foamer chamber that is fluidically coupled to the gas foamer cavity. The gas foamer wall has gas provisioning holes formed therein to provide dispersed inlet gas from the gas receiving foamer chamber. The gas/liquid mixing foamer has a liquid foamer wall configured to form a liquid receiving foamer chamber that is fluidically coupled to the liquid foamer cavity. The liquid foamer wall having liquid provisioning holes formed therein to provide dispersed non-infused liquid from the liquid receiving foamer chamber. The mixing chamber is configured to receive the dispersed inlet gas and the dispersed non-infused liquid, infuse the dispersed inlet gas and the dispersed non-infused liquid, and provide a foamed gas/liquid mixture from the mixing chamber.

A carbonated water dispenser comprises a carbonator with a water inlet and a carbonated water outlet. A backflow preventer module is fluidically coupled to the water inlet and comprises a check valve and a thermal mass flow meter. The thermal mass flow meter is configured to communicate a first signal based on a measured amount of heat transferred from a heater to a temperature sensor by a flow of a fluid through the backflow preventer module. A shut-off valve is fluidically coupled between the carbonated water outlet and a nozzle. The shut-off valve is configured to allow or prevent fluid flow from the carbonated water outlet to the nozzle base on a control signal. A controller is configured to detect a backflow condition based on the first signal and generate the control signal to configure the shut-off valve to prevent dispensing carbonated water upon detection of the backflow condition.

A gas dispensing system for a beverage system is disclosed herein. The gas dispensing system can releasably secure a gas canister or other gas source for release of pressurized gas therein to the beverage system. In an embodiment, the gas dispensing system includes a distribution body that can articulate between a loading position and a dispensing position. In the loading position, a gas canister can be releasably secured within the system. As the distribution body is moved into the dispensing position, a puncture mechanism can be moved further into the distribution body, puncturing the gas canister for release of pressurized gas. The distribution body can be fluidically coupled with a valve or other flow control element of the beverage machine, allowing for controlled entry of the pressurized gas into the system.

A gas dispensing system for a beverage system is disclosed herein. The gas dispensing system can releasably secure a gas canister or other gas source for release of pressurized gas therein to the beverage system. In an embodiment, the gas dispensing system includes a distribution body that can articulate between a loading position and a dispensing position. In the loading position, a gas canister can be releasably secured within the system. As the distribution body is moved into the dispensing position, a puncture mechanism can be moved further into the distribution body, puncturing the gas canister for release of pressurized gas. The distribution body can be fluidically coupled with a valve or other flow control element of the beverage machine, allowing for controlled entry of the pressurized gas into the system.

A beverage-dispensing appliance may include a carbonation tank, a carbonator jacket, a cold water line, and an ice bin. The carbonation tank may define a tank volume, a water inlet upstream from the tank volume, a carbon dioxide inlet upstream from the tank volume, and a carbonated water outlet downstream from the tank volume. The carbonator jacket may define a jacket volume disposed about the carbonation tank. The cold water line may extend to the carbonator jacket in upstream fluid communication with the tank volume to direct a cold water flow to the tank volume. The ice bin may be spaced apart from the carbonation tank. The ice bin may define a drain aperture upstream from the cold water line to direct melt water thereto.

Beverage dispensers are disclosed. A beverage dispenser may include a carbonation pump, pressure tank, and a pressure switch configured to active the pressure pump when a pressure in the pressure tank falls below a threshold pressure. The pressure switch may cause the carbonation pump to shut off when the pressure in the pressure tank exceeds an upper threshold pressure. The beverage dispenser may be convertible from a carbonated beverage dispenser to a non-carbonated beverage dispenser.

Disclosed herein is a refrigerator and a control method thereof. The refrigerator includes a purified water tank to store water, a flow sensor to detect an amount of water supplied to the purified water tank, a purified water supply valve to open/close a purified water supply flow path to guide water stored in the purified water tank to the carbonated water tank, a carbonated water discharge valve to open/close a carbonated water discharge flow path to guide the carbonated water to the outside of the refrigerator, and a controller to detect a position where water leakage occurs by sequentially opening the purified water supply valve and the carbonated water discharge valve in a water leakage mode.

A carbonated water dispenser comprises a carbonator with a water inlet and a carbonated water outlet. A backflow preventer module is fluidically coupled to the water inlet and comprises a check valve and a thermal mass flow meter. The thermal mass flow meter is configured to communicate a first signal based on a measured amount of heat transferred from a heater to a temperature sensor by a flow of a fluid through the backflow preventer module. A shut-off valve is fluidically coupled between the carbonated water outlet and a nozzle. The shut-off valve is configured to allow or prevent fluid flow from the carbonated water outlet to the nozzle base on a control signal. A controller is configured to detect a backflow condition based on the first signal and generate the control signal to configure the shut-off valve to prevent dispensing carbonated water upon detection of the backflow condition.