Liquid food dispenser system and method
A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.
1. A method for dispensing a liquid, the method comprising:
measuring a temperature inside a chamber, the chamber containing a membrane having the liquid to be dispensed;
measuring a first pressure inside the chamber;
introducing an amount of gas inside the chamber after measuring the first pressure;
measuring a second pressure inside the chamber after introducing the amount of gas; and
adjusting to a third pressure in the chamber to dispense the liquid at a desired flow rate after measuring the second pressure, wherein the adjusting to the third pressure comprises controlling a gas source to introduce gas into the chamber;
after the adjusting, opening a nozzle;
dispensing a portion of the liquid out of the nozzle;
introducing a flow of water at the nozzle while dispensing the liquid;
closing the nozzle;
stopping the flow of water when closing the nozzle; and
adjusting to a fourth pressure in the chamber.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using the temperature, the first pressure, and the second pressure to determine a product volume inside the chamber.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising calculating a target pressure, wherein the adjusting the pressure in the chamber adjusts to the target pressure.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the calculating the target pressure further comprises calculating a head height of the liquid.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the calculating the target pressure further comprises calculating a head pressure.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the calculating the target pressure is performed at least in part using the following equation:
P TC =P TH −(ρ P *g*V P )/( W C *D C )
where P TC is the target pressure, P TH is a total head pressure, pp is a density of the liquid, g is the gravitational constant, V P is the product volume, W C is a width of the chamber, and D C is a depth of the chamber.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising calibrating a pump volume prior to the adjusting the pressure in the chamber.
8. A method for dispensing a liquid, the method comprising:
measuring a temperature inside a chamber, the chamber containing a membrane having the liquid to be dispensed;
measuring a first pressure inside the chamber;
introducing an amount of gas inside the chamber after measuring the first pressure;
measuring a second pressure inside the chamber after introducing the amount of gas; and
adjusting to a third pressure in the chamber to dispense the liquid at a desired flow rate after measuring the second pressure, wherein the adjusting to the third pressure comprises controlling a gas source to introduce gas into the chamber;
after the adjusting, opening a nozzle;
dispensing a portion of the liquid out of the nozzle;
introducing a flow of water at the nozzle while dispensing the liquid;
closing the nozzle;
stopping the flow of water at a time after closing the nozzle; and
adjusting to a fourth pressure in the chamber.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising using the temperature, the first pressure, and the second pressure to determine a product volume using the following equation:
V P =V C −( n Δ RT 1 )/( P 2 −P 1 )
where V P is the product volume, V C is a volume of the chamber, n Δ is the amount of gas introduced into the chamber between the first measuring and the second measuring, R is the gas constant, T 1 is the temperature, P 2 is the second pressure, and P 1 is the first pressure.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising calculating a target pressure, wherein the adjusting to the third pressure in the chamber adjusts to the target pressure.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the calculating the target pressure further comprises calculating a head height of the liquid, wherein the calculating the head height is performed at least in part using the following equation:
H P =V P /( W C *D C )
where H P is the head height of the liquid, V P is the product volume, W C is a width of the chamber, and D C is a depth of the chamber.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the calculating the target pressure further comprises calculating a head pressure, wherein the calculating the head pressure is performed at least in part using the following equation:
P P =H P *ρ P *g
where P P is the head pressure, H P is the head height of the liquid, ρ P is a density of the liquid, and g is the gravitational constant.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the calculating the target pressure further comprises calculating a total head pressure, wherein the calculating the total head pressure is determined at least in part using the following equation:
P TH =H PT *ρ P *g
where P TH is the total head pressure, H PT is a target head pressure, ρ P is the density of the liquid, and g is the gravitational constant.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the calculating the target pressure is performed at least in part using the following equation:
P TC =P TH −(ρ P *g*V P )/( W C *D C )
where P TC is the target pressure, P TH is the total head pressure, ρ P is the density of the liquid, g is the gravitational constant, V P is the product volume, W C is the width of the chamber, and D C is the depth of the chamber.
15. A method for dispensing a liquid beverage, the method comprising:
measuring a temperature inside a chamber containing a compressible container having a liquid to be dispensed;
measuring a first pressure inside the chamber;
introducing an amount of air inside the chamber by running an air pump for a predetermined period of time after the measuring the first pressure;
measuring a second pressure inside the chamber after the introducing the amount of air;
adjusting to a third pressure inside the chamber to dispense the liquid beverage at a desired flow rate after the measuring the second pressure;
opening a nozzle;
dispensing the liquid beverage out of the nozzle;
mixing water with the dispensed liquid beverage at the nozzle;
closing the nozzle; and
adjusting to a fourth pressure inside the chamber to dispense the liquid at the desired flow rate.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising rinsing the nozzle with water after the dispensing the liquid beverage out of the nozzle.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising using the temperature, the first pressure, and the second pressure to determine a product volume inside the chamber.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising calculating a target pressure, wherein the adjusting to the third pressure in the chamber adjusts the pressure to the target pressure.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the calculating the target pressure further comprises:
calculating a head height of the liquid; and
calculating a head pressure of the liquid from the head height of the liquid.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the calculating the target pressure is performed at least in part using the following equation:
P TC =P TH −(ρ P *g*V P )/( W C *D C )
where P TC is the target pressure, P TH is a total head pressure, ρ p is a density of the liquid, g is the gravitational constant, V P is the product volume, W C is a width of the chamber, and D C is a depth of the chamber.