HEAT EXCHANGER, PARTICULARLY FOR USE IN A BEVERAGE DISPENSER

A method of cooling multiple beverage components involves: providing a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of sheets of heat transfer material and at least first and second flow channels defined by surfaces made at least in part by the sheets of heat transfer material; directing a first and second fluid respectively through the first and second flow channels, each of the first and second fluids being selected from the group consisting of non-carbonated water, carbonated water, beverage concentrates and non-concentrated beverages; placing ice in contact with at least one of the sheets of heat transfer material; and melting the ice and thereby cooling the first and second fluids as they reside in and pass through their respective channels. An improved beverage dispensing system includes a plurality of beverage dispensing valves and a heat exchanger that is configured to cool beverage components dispensed through the valves by the melting of ice in contact with the heat exchanger, the heat exchanger comprising a plurality of sheets of heat transfer material and at least first and second flow channels defined by surfaces made at least in part by said sheets of heat transfer material. A method of constructing a heat exchanger for cooling multiple fluids involves providing at least first, second and third sheets of heat transfer material in a stacked relationship, with the second sheet between the first and third sheets, leaving a first space between the first and second sheets and a second space between the second and third sheets; providing at least one divider forming at least first and third distinct passageways in the first space, and at least one divider forming at least second and fourth distinct passageways in the second space; and providing inlet and outlet connections in fluid communication with the distinct passageways in the first and second spaces. La presente invención se refiere a un sistema de distribución de bebidas que comprende una pluralidad de válvulas de distribución de bebida y un intercambiador de calor que está configurado para enfriar los componentes de bebidas distribuidos a través de las válvulas mediante el derretido del hielo en contacto con el intercambiador de calor, caracterizado porque: el intercambiador de calor comprende una pluralidad de hojas de material de transferencia de calor y al menos un primer y segundo canales de flujo definidos por superficies elaboradas al menos en parte por las hojas de material de transferencia