Carbonation device for beverages and related carbonation sensor

A carbonation device for beverages, comprising a carbonation tank adapted to receive a beverage to be carbonated and carbon dioxide so as to generate a carbonated beverage, carbonated with said carbon dioxide, and a dispensing device in fluid communication with said carbonation tank and adapted to dispense, through a duct, said carbonated beverage to a container for carbonated beverages, said carbonated beverage flowing along said duct in a flow direction, wherein the carbonation device comprises a carbonation sensor associated with said duct, said carbonation sensor comprising a radiation source adapted to generate a radiation which strikes said duct along an irradiation direction incident to said flow direction, said carbonation sensor further comprising:

• a first photodiode placed on said irradiation direction from a side opposite to said radiation source with respect to said duct, said first photodiode generating a first electrical signal dependent on the radiation portion which passes through said carbonated beverage which flows along said duct, or
• a second photodiode placed along a diffusion direction substantially orthogonal to said irradiation direction, said second photodiode generating a second electrical signal dependent on the radiation portion which is diffused by said carbonated beverage along substantially said diffusion direction,
• wherein the carbonation device comprises a source of carbon dioxide in fluid communication with said carbonation tank and a source of beverage to be gassed in fluid communication with said carbonation tank, said carbonation device comprising a processing and control unit connected to said carbonation sensor so as to receive and process said first electrical signal generated by said first photodiode and/or said second electrical signal generated by said second photodiode, said processing and control unit being configured to regulate the dispensing of said carbon dioxide from said carbon dioxide source to said carbonation tank and/or to regulate the dispensing of said beverage to be gassed from said beverage source to be gassed, to said carbonation tank on the basis of said first electrical signal and/or of said second electrical signal.