CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE OF DISPENSED LIQUIDS

An apparatus (2) for controlling the temperature of a dispensed liquid, the apparatus comprising a first heat exchanger (4) including a first conduit (8) having input (10) and output ends (12) thereof for respectively receiving and dispensing a flow of liquid, a second heat exchanger (6) including a second conduit through which, in use, a coolant is passed, a plurality of thermoelectric devices (40) disposed between the first (4) and second (6) heat exchangers and electrical circuitry connected to the thermoelectric devices (40) whereby the thermoelectric devices (40) are electrically energisable to conduct heat therethrough between the first(4) and second (6) heat exchangers. The invention also provides a beverage dispensing device (80) comprising the above-mentioned apparatus (2), a beverage supply (86) and a dispensing tap (96) respectively connected to the input (10) and output (12) ends of the first conduit (8), and a refrigerant circulation system (90) in which the second conduit (6) is connected. The invention further provides a method of controlling the temperature of a dispensed beverage, the method comprising passing a beverage to be dispensed from a beverage supply through a heat exchanger assembly including a plurality of thermoelectric devices; cooling or heating the beverage to a predetermined temperature in the heat exchanger assembly by applying a direct voltage across the thermoelectric devices, thereby to pump heat out of or into the beverage; and dispensing the temperature controlled beverage. L'invention concerne un dispositif (2) permettant de réguler la température d'un liquide distribué, comprenant un premier échangeur thermique (4) ayant un premier conduit (8) présentant des extrémités d'entrée (10) et de sortie (12) pour recevoir et distribuer respectivement un flux de liquide, un second échangeur thermique (6) ayant un second conduit dans lequel on fait passer, lors de l'utilisation, un réfrigérant, une pluralité de dispositifs thermoélectriques (40) placés entre le premier (4) et le second (6) échangeur thermique, ainsi que des circuits électriques connectés à ces dispositifs thermoélectriques (40), pour que ceux-ci puissent être alimentés électriquement, afin de conduire la chaleur entre le premier (4) et le second (6) échangeur thermique. L'invention concerne également un distributeur (80) de boissons comportant le dispositif (2) en question, un réservoir (86) de boisson et un robinet (96) de distribution respectivement connect