Scale detection systems and methods for aircraft beverage makers

An article of manufacture including a tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon for detecting and monitoring scale buildup in a beverage maker and that, in response to execution by a controller, cause the controller to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, by the controller, a series of measured temperature signals from a temperature sensor operably coupled to a heating system of the beverage maker;
• determining, by the controller, a change in temperature using the series of measured temperature signals;
• calculating, by the controller, an efficiency of the heating system based on the change in temperature;
• estimating, by the controller, a scale buildup based on the efficiency of the heating system;
• and
• storing, by the controller, at least one of the estimated scale buildup or the efficiency of the heating system in a heating system performance database.

A method for detecting and monitoring scale buildup in a beverage maker, comprising:

• receiving, by a controller, a series of measured temperature signals from a temperature sensor operably coupled to a heating system of the beverage maker;
• determining, by the controller, a change in temperature using the series of measured temperature signals;
• calculating, by the controller, an efficiency of the heating system based on the change in temperature;
• estimating, by the controller, a scale buildup based on the efficiency of the heating system;
• and
• storing, by the controller, at least one of the estimated scale buildup or the efficiency of the heating system in a heating system performance database.

A scale detection and monitoring system, comprising:

• a heating system;
• a temperature sensor operably coupled to the heating system;
• and
• a controller in communication with the temperature sensor, wherein the controller is configured to receive a series of measured temperature signals from the temperature sensor and determine a change in temperature using the series of measured temperature signals, and wherein the controller is configured to calculate an efficiency of the heating system based on the change in temperature and estimate a scale buildup based on the efficiency of the heating system.