Enhanced heat transfer to water

A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a tank configured to receive and retain fluid and having a bottom surface and at least one upwardly extending perimeter sidewall extending upwards from the bottom surface defining an interior volume;
• a liquid inlet configured to deliver fluid from a fluid source to the interior volume of the tank;
• a fluid dispensing system comprising:
• a dispensing fluid conduit having a non-linear portion that extends from proximate the bottom of the tank to about the top surface of the tank and at least substantially vertically oriented within the interior volume of the tank and wherein the dispensing fluid conduit has an inlet proximate a bottom portion of the tank and an outlet positioned out of the interior volume of the tank;
• and
• a fluid circulating system comprising:
• at least one fluid circulation conduit having an inlet portion positioned proximate the bottom portion of the tank and at least one outlet positioned proximate the at least one perimeter sidewall of the tank;
• a fluid pump in fluid communication with the at least one fluid circulation conduit and configured to move fluid from the bottom portion of the tank to the fluid circulation conduit wherein the at least one outlet is configured to produce a fluid flow tangential to the orientation of the dispensing fluid conduit configuration;
• evaporator coils extending around a perimeter of the tank, in thermal communication with the tank and configured to chill the fluid within the tank;
• and
• at least one fin disposed about an inside perimeter of the tank.

A method for producing a chilled beverage comprising the steps of:

• receiving at least one fluid into a tank from a fluid source via a liquid inlet, wherein the tank includes a bottom surface, and at least one upwardly extending perimeter sidewall extending upwards from the bottom surface defining an interior volume and having an exterior surface and an interior surface;
• cooling the at least one fluid inside of the tank using at least one evaporator coil in thermal communication with the tank and extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the tank;
• circulating the fluid through at least one fluid circulation conduit having an inlet portion positioned proximate the bottom portion of the tank and at least one outlet;
• moving the fluid from the bottom portion of the tank into the fluid circulation conduit using a fluid cycling device in fluid communication with the at least one fluid circulation conduit;
• producing a fluid flow about and along the interior surface of the tank;
• and
• dispensing the fluid to a user through a dispensing fluid conduit having a non-linear portion at least substantially vertically oriented within the interior volume of the tank, an inlet proximate a bottom portion of the tank, and an outlet positioned out of the interior volume of the tank.