Method for drawing a carbonated drink, dispenser system for carbonated drinks and cartridge unit for same

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for drawing a carbonated drink from a dispenser system, in which the carbonated drink is conducted via a line through a flow controller and a filter that is downstream of said flow controller. The invention also relates to a dispenser system and to a cartridge unit comprising a filter.

Claims

1. A method for drawing a carbonated drink from a dispensing system, wherein the carbonated drink is passed by way of a line through a flow regulator and a filter arranged downstream of the flow regulator, wherein the carbonated drink undergoes a pressure drop when passing through the filter, with the pressure drop being greater than the equilibrium pressure of the carbonated drink.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flow rate is set by the flow regulator to 1-3 L/min.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the carbonated drink has a CO.sub.2 content of 3-8 g CO.sub.2/L.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the carbonated drink has a temperature between 1° C. and 12° C. when passing through the filter.

5. The method according claim 1, wherein the pressure drop at 10° C. is greater than 1 bar.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flow regulator and the filter are arranged in a cartridge unit.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the carbonated drink is passed through a valve for closing the line.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the valve is a low-turbulence valve.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the valve is arranged downstream of the filter.

10. The dispensing system according to claim 9, wherein a flow rate of the carbonated drink is adjustable with the flow regulator to 1-3 L/min, or to approximately 2 L/min.

11. The dispensing system according to claim 9, wherein the dispensing system comprises a cooling system.

12. The dispensing system according to one of claim 9, wherein the dispensing system comprises a cartridge unit which includes the flow regulator and the filter.

13. The dispensing system according to claim 12, wherein the cartridge unit is exchangeable.

14. A dispensing system for carbonate drinks, comprising, a line having a flow regulator and a filter disposed downstream of a flow regulator, and configured to pass a carbonated drink via the line through the flow regulator and the filter, wherein the filter is constructed such that the carbonated drink undergoes a pressure drop that is greater than the equilibrium pressure of the carbonated drink, when the carbonate drink flows through the filter.

15. The dispensing system according to claim 14, wherein the filter is constructed such that the pressure drop of the carbonated drink at 10° C. is greater than 1 bar.

16. The dispensing system according to claim 14, wherein the dispensing system has a valve for closing the line.

17. The dispensing system according to claim 16, wherein the valve is arranged downstream of the filter.

18. The dispensing system according to claim 17, wherein the valve comprises a safety valve or a pressure-sustaining valve.

19. The dispensing system according to claim 16, wherein the valve is arranged upstream of the flow regulator.

20. The dispensing system according to claim 19, further comprising a ball valve or a cone valve, which is arranged on the line downstream of the filter.

21. A cartridge unit for use in the method according to claim 1, comprising a flow regulator and a filter configured to pass the carbonated drink through the flow regulator and the filter, wherein the filter is arranged downstream of the flow regulator, and wherein the filter is constructed to relax a carbonated drink when the carbonated drink flows through the filter such that carbonated drink undergoes a pressure drop that is greater than the equilibrium pressure of the carbonated drink flowing through the filter.

22. The cartridge unit according to claim 21, wherein flow regulator is configured to set a constant flow rate of the carbonated drink of 1-3 l/min.

23. The cartridge unit according to claim 21, wherein the filter is constructed for a pressure drop of the carbonated drink flowing through the filter is greater than bar at a flow rate of 2 l/min and a carbon dioxide content of 6 g CO.sub.2/l at 10° C.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1: shows a first embodiment of a dispensing system, and

(2) FIG. 2: shows another embodiment of a dispensing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(3) Like reference numerals in the two exemplary embodiments indicate identically designed components.

(4) FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of a dispensing system 1 according to the invention. The dispensing system 1 in this case has a line 3 and a flow regulator 5 and a filter 7. The line 3 of the dispensing system 1 is connected to a storage tank 17 for a carbonated drink 19. The carbonated drink 19 in the storage tank is under pressure. Moreover, the storage tank 17 also has a supply line 21 for water and a supply line 23 for CO.sub.2.

(5) The filter 7 is constructed as a dead-end filter and is based on a bundle of several hollow-fiber membranes having pores with a size between 150 and 200 nanometers. Such filters allow sterile filtration and thus prevent retrograde contamination of the dispensing system from a tap 27.

(6) The carbonated drink 19 is passed through the line 3 through the flow regulator 5 and the filter 7 and can then be drawn at a tap 27. For monitoring the pressure control and the flow rate, the dispensing system 1 also has a pressure indicator 9. This is only an optional feature which can, for example, be omitted in end customer equipment for cost reasons.

(7) Moreover, a valve 11 is provided upstream of the flow regulator 5 for the purpose of closing the dispensing system 1, for example, for maintenance or while it is not in operation. With this valve 11, the line 3 can be closed and opened. A cartridge unit 25 (indicated by dashed lines) in which the flow regulator 5 and the filter 7 are arranged is provided. Furthermore, the pressure indicator 9 is also arranged in the cartridge unit 25. Optionally, however, a cartridge unit 25 without a pressure indicator 9 may be provided. The dispensing system 1 also has a cone valve 13 as drip protection.

(8) Furthermore, the storage tank 17 for carbonated drinks 19 may optionally be integrated directly into the dispensing system 1. Moreover, in each case, for example, new containers may be connected to the line 3, as is done for example in operations when drinks are housed in barrels.

(9) FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a dispensing system 1 according to the invention. This embodiment has a storage tank 17 for carbonated drinks 19 and a connection 21 for water and a connection 23 for CO.sub.2. The carbonated drink 19 is passed through the line 3 through a flow regulator 5 and a filter 7. In the filter 7, the carbonated drink 19 is relaxed to ambient pressure and experiences here a pressure drop that is greater than the equilibrium pressure of the carbonated drink 19. The flow regulator 5 and the filter 7 together with a pressure gauge 9 are arranged in a cartridge unit 25. A valve 15 with a safety/pressure valve is arranged downstream of the cartridge unit 25 and the filter 7. This valve 15 with safety/pressure valve can be used to open and close the line 3 of the dispensing system 1′.