Chilled N2 infused beverage dispensing system to prepare and dispense a chilled N2 infused beverage
A system and method to prepare and dispense a N 2 or N 2 /CO 2 gas infused chilled beverage is provided. The beverage may be any non-carbonated liquid and in one embodiment the beverage is coffee. The dispensed N 2 or N 2 /CO 2 gas infused chilled coffee has a unique appearance and enhanced flavor and aroma. The system may be provided as a self-contained unit.
1. A system for dispensing a cooled beverage, comprising:
a liquid/gas contactor unit;
a beverage pump;
a beverage tank in liquid communication with the liquid/gas contactor unit through the beverage pump, wherein the beverage tank is pressurized;
a cooling or refrigeration system configured to cool the beverage tank, wherein the beverage pump is configured to transfer a cooled noncarbonated beverage from the beverage tank to the liquid/gas contactor unit;
a controlled pressurized supply of a regulated pressure nitrogen gas comprising at least 50% by weight nitrogen (N 2 );
one or more secondary regulators for feeding the regulated pressure nitrogen gas to the liquid/gas contactor unit and the beverage pump, wherein the cooled noncarbonated beverage contacts the regulated pressure nitrogen gas in the liquid/gas contactor unit to dissolve the regulated pressure nitrogen gas in the cooled noncarbonated beverage to form a cooled nitrogen-infused noncarbonated beverage; and
a beverage faucet attached downstream to the liquid/gas contactor unit configured to dispense the cooled nitrogen-infused noncarbonated beverage at a controlled rate.
2. The system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 1 , wherein the beverage faucet is a slow pour faucet optionally fitted with a restrictor nozzle or restrictor plate that allows for release of N 2 or N 2 /CO 2 gas from the cooled beverage when dispensed to a receiver.
3. The system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 1 , wherein the regulated pressure nitrogen gas is a pure nitrogen gas having at least 99.5% N 2 .
4. The system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 1 , wherein a pressure applied to the beverage tank is from 10 to 12 psi.
5. The system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 1 , wherein the cooling or refrigeration system configured to cool the beverage tank to a temperature of from 30 to 40° F.
6. The system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 1 , wherein a pressure of the regulated pressure nitrogen gas supplied to the liquid/gas contactor unit and the beverage pump is simultaneously controlled at from 20 to 70 psi.
7. A beverage dispensing unit comprising the system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 1 and the cooling or refrigeration system in one self-contained unit, and further comprising a blast chiller before the beverage tank within the self-contained unit or external to the self-contained unit.
8. A beverage dispensing unit comprising the system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 1 and the cooling or refrigeration system in one self-contained unit, and further comprising an inline strainer and/or filtration unit in the beverage pump prior to the liquid/gas contactor unit.
9. A dispense kit, comprising at least the system of claim 1 in a self-contained unit capable of being affixed to a wall or a panel.
10. A system for dispensing a cooled beverage, comprising:
a liquid/gas contactor unit;
a beverage pump;
a bag-in-box beverage container in liquid communication with the liquid/gas contactor unit through the beverage pump, wherein the beverage pump is configured to transfer a noncarbonated beverage from the bag-in-box beverage container to the liquid/gas contactor unit;
a cooling or refrigeration system configured to cool the bag-in-box beverage container;
a controlled pressurized supply of a regulated pressure nitrogen gas comprising at least 50% by weight nitrogen (N 2 );
one or more secondary regulators for feeding the regulated pressure nitrogen gas to the liquid/gas contactor unit and the beverage pump, wherein the noncarbonated beverage contacts the regulated pressure nitrogen gas in the liquid/gas contactor unit to dissolve the regulated pressure nitrogen gas in the noncarbonated beverage to form a cooled nitrogen-infused noncarbonated beverage; and
a beverage faucet attached downstream to the liquid/gas contactor unit configured to dispense the cooled nitrogen-infused noncarbonated beverage at a controlled rate.
11. The system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 10 , wherein the beverage faucet is a slow pour faucet optionally fitted with a restrictor nozzle or restrictor plate that allows for release of N 2 or N 2 /CO 2 gas from the beverage when dispensed to a receiver.
12. The system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 10 , wherein the regulated pressure nitrogen gas is a pure nitrogen gas having at least 99.5% N 2 .
13. The system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 10 , wherein no pressure is applied to the bag-in-box beverage container.
14. The system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 10 , wherein the cooling or refrigeration system configured to cool the bag-in-box beverage container to a temperature of from 30 to 40° F.
15. The system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 10 , wherein a pressure of the regulated pressure nitrogen gas supplied to the liquid/gas contactor unit and the beverage pump is simultaneously controlled at from 20 to 70 psi.
16. A beverage dispensing unit comprising the system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 10 and the cooling or refrigeration system in one self-contained unit, and further comprising a blast chiller before the bag-in-box beverage container within the self-contained unit or external to the self-contained unit.
17. A beverage dispensing unit comprising the system for dispensing a cooled liquid of claim 10 and the cooling or refrigeration system in one self-contained unit, and further comprising an inline strainer and/or filtration unit in the beverage pump prior to the liquid/gas contactor unit.
18. A dispense kit, comprising at least the system of claim 10 in a self-contained unit capable of being affixed to a wall or a panel.
19. A kit, comprising:
a liquid-gas contactor having a downstream line with a liquid connect for connection to a tower assembly;
a liquid supply line upstream to the liquid-gas contactor comprising a beverage pump, a beverage filter assembly, and a connect coupling;
a gas supply line upstream to the liquid-gas contactor and the beverage pump having a gas regulator and a gas connect coupling;
wherein
a safety gas regulator is located in the gas supply line between the gas regulator and the liquid-gas contactor, and
a back check valve is located in the downstream line of the liquid-gas contactor prior to the tower assembly.
20. The kit of claim 19 , further comprising a secondary gas regulator between the gas regulator and the safety gas regulator.
21. The kit of claim 19 , further comprising a purge and clean valve in the liquid supply line.