A Dispense Surface for a Nitrogen Containing Fluid

Abstract

A dispense surface (12) for a nitrogen containing fluid, e.g. as incorporated into a beverage can (11) containing stout beer. The surface includes a stagnation zone of low pressure regions; and a nanostructured zone to lower the energy to nucleation and promote bubble nucleation out of the nitrogen containing fluid.

1 . A dispense surface for a nitrogen containing fluid including:
 a stagnation zone of low pressure regions; and   a nanostructured zone to lower the energy to nucleation and promote bubble nucleation out of the nitrogen containing fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The dispense surface of  claim 1  wherein the stagnation zone includes or is created by a geometric feature to change the flow direction of the fluid, thereby creating an impact pressure. 
     
     
         3 . The dispense surface of  claim 2  wherein the geometric feature enables fluid to fall between two or more levels. 
     
     
         4 . The dispense surface of  claim 2  wherein the geometric feature is one or more of the following, alone or in combination, a bend in the dispense surface, the dispense surface itself located at an acute angle to a direction of pour, a protrusion, ridge, a cylinder, chevron, triangle, slats and venturi shapes. 
     
     
         5 . The dispense surface of  claim 1  wherein the stagnation zone is embodied in a structure adapted for integration or attachment to a fluid container. 
     
     
         6 . The dispense surface of  claim 1  wherein the volumetric flowrate of the fluid during the main period of flow is able to be maintained above 10 mL/s. 
     
     
         7 . The dispense surface of  claim 1  wherein the nanostructured zone includes a high density of nanoscale pits, pores or protrusions. 
     
     
         8 . The dispense surface of  claim 7  wherein each pit or distance between protrusions is approximately 20 to 85 nm across. 
     
     
         9 . The dispense surface of  claim 7  wherein each pit, pore or protrusion is a minimum of 15 nm deep/high, most preferably at least 50 nm deep/high. 
     
     
         10 . The dispense surface of  claim 7 , wherein the nanostructured zone is incorporated into a surface also including a microstructure of grooves and/or pockets. 
     
     
         11 . The dispense surface of  claim 10  wherein the microstructure grooves and/or pockets are approximately 1 to 100 μm across. 
     
     
         12 . The dispense surface of  claim 1  wherein the stagnation zone and nanostructured zone overlap. 
     
     
         13 . The dispense surface of  claim 1  wherein the nanostructured zone is part of a flow surface that extends significantly beyond the stagnation zone. 
     
     
         14 . The dispense surface of  claim 13  wherein the flow surface is at least 2 cm 2 . 
     
     
         15 . The dispense surface of  claim 1  further including a spoiler for location at an exit opening of a fluid container. 
     
     
         16 . A beverage container incorporating a dispense surface according to  claim 1  adjacent an openable mouth thereof and located to cause an acute angle of impact for fluid poured from the openable mouth onto the dispense surface. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage container of  claim 16  wherein the dispense surface is incorporated into a spout or tab located over the openable mouth. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage container of  claim 17  wherein the dispense surface includes at least one macrofeature. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage container of  claim 18  wherein the macrofeature is a divet, ridge, slat or other raised surface. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage container of  claim 17  wherein the container is a can or bottle. 
     
     
         21 . The beverage container of  claim 16  wherein the container is configured to achieve a liquid flow rate from the mouth toward the dispense surface of greater than 30 m L/s. 
     
     
         22 . The beverage container of  claim 21  wherein a liquid impact pressure onto the dispense surface, resulting from the flow rate, is greater than 300 Pa. 
     
     
         23 . A method of dispensing nitrogen containing fluid from a container wherein, at an exit of the container, a flow surface is provided comprised of:
 a stagnation zone to create low pressure regions; and   a nanostructured zone coincident and/or downstream of the stagnation zone to lower the energy to nucleation and promote bubble nucleation out of the nitrogenated fluid.   
     
     
         24 - 32 . (canceled)