CA-3120636-C - BACKFLOW DETECTION AND MIXING MODULE WITH A THERMAL MASS FLOW METER

Abstract

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.

Inventors

• James DALBERG
• Jevawn Sebastian Roberts
• Brian B. Johnson

Assignees

• THE COCA-COLA COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20191220

Priority Date

20181220

Claims (13)

1. 48 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A backflow preventer module, comprising: a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet, the passageway defining a flow path through the backflow preventer module; a thermal mass flow meter, the thermal mass flow meter located between the inlet and the outlet along the flow path, wherein the thermal mass flow meter is configured to communicate a first signal based on a flow rate of a fluid along the flow path from the outlet to the inlet indicative of a backflow condition; and a check valve located between the inlet and the outlet along the flow path and configured to prevent a flow of fluid in a direction from the outlet to the inlet, wherein the thermal mass flow meter is further configured to communicate a second signal based on a measured temperature of the fluid indicative of a backflow condition.
2. 2. The backflow preventer module of claim 1, further comprising: a second check valve located between the inlet and the outlet along the flow path and configured to prevent a flow of fluid in the direction from the outlet to the inlet.
3. 3. The backflow preventer module of claim 1, wherein the thermal mass flow meter comprises a heater and a temperature sensor located at a distance from the heater toward the inlet or the outlet.
4. 4. The backflow preventer module of claim 3, wherein the thermal mass flow meter further comprises a second temperature sensor located at the distance from the heater toward the other of the inlet or the outlet.
5. 5. The backflow preventer module of claim 3, wherein the thermal mass flow meter is configured to generate the first signal based on a measured amount of heat transferred from the heater to the temperature sensor.
6. 6. The backflow preventer module of claim 5, wherein the first signal is a voltage or current value of the measured amount of heat transferred or a flow rate value determined by the thermal mass flow meter based on the measured amount of heat transferred. 49
7. 7. The backflow preventer module of claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple, a thermopile, or thermistor.
8. 8. A carbonated water dispenser, comprising: a carbonator comprising a water inlet and a carbonated water outlet, a backflow preventer module fluidically coupled to the water inlet, the backflow preventer comprising a check valve and a thermal mass flow meter 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 nozzle fluidically coupled to the carbonated water outlet; a shut-off valve fluidically coupled between the carbonated water outlet and the nozzle, the shut-off valve configured to receive a first control signal to configure the shut-off valve in an open position and configured to receive a second control signal to configure the shut-off valve in a closed position, wherein the shut-off valve is configured to allow carbonated water to flow from the carbonated water outlet to the nozzle in the open position and prevent the carbonated water from flowing from the carbonated water outlet to the nozzle in the closed position, and a controller electrically coupled to the backflow preventer module and configured to receive the first signal and detect a backflow condition based on the first signal, wherein the controller is further electrically coupled to the shut-off valve and configured to communicate the second control signal upon detection of the backflow condition, wherein the controller is configured to detect the backflow condition upon determining that the first control signal is indicative of the fluid through the backflow preventer module is in a direction away from the water inlet.
9. 9. The carbonated water dispenser of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to detect the backflow condition upon determining that the first control signal is indicative of the fluid through the backflow preventer module is at a temperature below a threshold temperature.
10. 10. The carbonated water dispenser of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to detect the backflow condition upon detecting a threshold number of bubbles or a threshold amount of gas within a given period of time. 50
11. 11. The carbonated water dispenser of claim 8, wherein the carbonator further comprises a carbon dioxide inlet, the carbonated water dispenser further comprising; a second backflow preventer module fluidically coupled to the carbon dioxide inlet, the second backflow preventer comprising a second check valve and a second thermal mass flow meter configured to communicate a second signal based on a measured amount of heat transferred from a second heater to a second temperature sensor by a second flow of a fluid through the second backflow preventer module, wherein the controller is electrically coupled to the second backflow preventer module and configured to receive the second signal and detect a second backflow condition based on the second signal, wherein the controller is configured to communicate the second control signal upon detection of the second backflow condition.
12. 12. The carbonated water dispenser of claim 8, wherein the first signal is a voltage or current value of the measured amount of heat transferred or a flow rate, temperature, or bubble value determined by the thermal mass flow meter based on the measured amount of heat transferred.
13. 13. The carbonated water dispenser according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple, a thermopile, or thermistor.

Description

1 BACKFLOW DETECTION AND MIXING MODULE WITH A THERMAL MASS FLOW METER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/783, 113 filed December 20, 2018. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention generally relates to backflow detection, and more particularly to backflow detection with a thermal mass flow meter and check valve on a carbonator. This invention also generally relates to a mixing module, and more particularly to a mixing module with a thermal mass flow meter and controllable mixing valves. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A backflow preventer on a carbonator ensures that pressurized carbonated water is not allowed to flow from the carbonator into the water supply where the carbonated water may come into contact with copper plumbing. Upon carbonated water coming into contact with copper plumbing, the copper may dissolve into the water at sufficient concentrations to cause acute gastrointestinal distress in anyone that consumes the water. Typically, backflow prevention is provided by a dual check valve with a vent in between each of the check valves. While effective, it is still possible for a dual check valve to fail. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] In a first aspect of the disclosure, a backflow preventer module comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet and a passageway extending between the inlet and the outlet. The passageway defining a flow path through the backflow preventer module. The backflow preventer module further comprises a thermal mass flow meter, the thermal mass flow meter located between the inlet and the outlet along the flow path. The thermal mass flow meter is WO 2020/132454 PCT/0S2019/067871 configured to communicate a first signal based on a flow rate of a fluid along the flow path. The backflow preventer module further comprises a check valve located between the inlet and the outlet along the flow path and configured to prevent a flow of fluid in a direction from the outlet to the inlet. [0005] In some implementations of the first aspect of the disclosure, the backflow preventer module further cornprises a second check valve located between the inlet and the outlet along the flow path and configured to prevent a flow of fluid in the direction from the outlet to the inlet. [0006] In some implementations of the first aspect of the disclosure, the thennal mass flo\v meter is further configured to communicate a second signal based on a measured temperature of the fluid. [0007] In some implementations of the first aspect of the disclosure, the thermal mass flow meter comprises a heater and a temperature sensor located at a distance from the heater toward the inlet or the outlet. [0008] In some implementations of the first aspect of the disclosure, the thermal mass flow meter further comprises a second temperature sensor located at the distance from the heater toward the other of the inlet or the outlet. [0009] In some implementations of the first aspect of the disclosure, the thermal mass flow meter is configured to generate the first signal based on a measured amount of heat transferred from the heater to the temperature sensor. [0010] In some implementations of the first aspect of the disclosure, the first signal is a voltage or current value of the measured amount of heat transferred or a flow rate value determined by the thermal mass flow meter based on the measured amount of heat transferred. fOOH] In sorne irnplementations of the first aspect of the disclosure, the temperature sensor comprises a thermocouple, a thermopile, or thermistor. WO 2020/132454 PCT/0S2019/067871 [0012] In a second aspect of the disclosure, a carbonated water dispenser comprises a carbonator comprising a \vater inlet and a carbonated water outlet. The carbonated water dispenser also comprises a backflow preventer module fluidically coupled to the water inlet. The backflow preventer comprises a check valve and a thermal mass flow meter 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. The carbonated water dispenser comprises a nozzle fluidically coupled to the carbonated water outlet. The carbonated water dispenser comprises a shut-off valve fluidically coupled between the carbonated water outlet and the nozzle. The shut-off valve configured to receive a first control signal to configure the shut-off valve in an open position and configured to receive a second control signal to configure the shut-off valve in a closed position. The shut-off valve is configured to allow carbonated water to flow from the carbonated water outlet to the nozzle in the open position and prevent the carbonated water frorn flowing from the carbonated water outlet to the nozzle in the closed position. The carbonated water dispenser comprises a controller electrically coupled to the backflow preve