Rapid chilling water dispenser

A water dispenser in fluid communication with a water supply, comprising:

• a water dispensing nozzle;
• and
• a rapid water-chilling system in fluid communication with the water dispensing nozzle, comprising:
• a closed-cycle refrigeration system for a first refrigerant, wherein the closed-cycle refrigeration system includes a set of first refrigerant tubing that carries the first refrigerant, and the first refrigerant changes states between a liquid and a gas in the closed-cycle refrigeration system;
• a chilling tank having a first chamber and a second chamber that are in fluid communication with one another, wherein:
• disposed within the first chamber of the chilling tank are:
• a second refrigerant that exists solely in a liquid state in the chilling tank;
• and
• a plurality of first refrigerant coils formed from a portion of the set of first refrigerant tubing that carry the first refrigerant inside the chilling tank;
• wherein, in use, the plurality of first refrigerant coils refrigerates the second refrigerant;
• disposed within the second chamber of the chilling tank are:
• a cold water storage tank, having disposed within the cold water storage tank, a temperature sensor that monitors the temperature of water in the cold water storage tank for a designated low temperature, a high water level sensor and a low water level sensor;
• and
• a plurality of water inlet coils;
• a circulation pump for pumping the second refrigerant;
• wherein the circulation pump is in fluid communication with the first chamber of the chilling tank and the second chamber of the chilling tank for circulating the second refrigerant from the first chamber to the second;
• wherein, in use, the high water level sensor and the low level water level senor monitor the level of water in the cold water storage tank, and when activated by the temperature sensor because of the water in the cold water storage tank being at or above the designated low temperature, the first refrigerant chills the second refrigerant, and the circulation pump pumps the second refrigerant from the first chamber to the second chamber of the chilling tank to put the second refrigerant in contact with an outside of the cold water storage tank and an outside of the plurality of water coils to chill water contained within each;
• wherein, after contacting the outside of the cold water storage tank and the outside of the plurality of water coils, the second refrigerant returns to the first chamber of the chilling tank.

A method for delivering a sustained supply of cold water supply from a water dispenser, comprising the steps of:

• providing a water dispenser;
• comprising:
• a water pump in fluid communication with a water supply;
• a processor, storing a cold water tank lower temperature limit;
• a water dispensing nozzle for dispensing water when activated;
• a rapid water-chilling system in fluid communication with the water pump and the water dispensing nozzle, comprising:
• a closed-cycle refrigeration system for a first refrigerant, wherein the closed-cycle refrigeration system includes a set of first refrigerant tubing that carries the first refrigerant, and the first refrigerant changes states between a liquid and a gas in the closed-cycle refrigeration system;
• a chilling tank having a first chamber and a second chamber that are in fluid communication with one another, wherein:
• disposed within the first chamber of the chilling tank are:
• a second refrigerant that exists solely in a liquid state in the chilling tank;
• and
• a plurality of first refrigerant coils formed from a portion of the set of first refrigerant tubing that carry the first refrigerant inside the chilling tank;
• wherein, in use, the plurality of first refrigerant coils refrigerates the second refrigerant;
• disposed within the second chamber of the chilling tank are:
• a cold water storage tank having disposed within the cold water storage tank, a temperature sensor that monitors the temperature of water in the cold water storage tank for the stored cold water tank lower temperature limit;
• and
• a plurality of water inlet coils;
• a circulation pump for pumping the second refrigerant;
• wherein the circulation pump is in fluid communication with the first chamber of the chilling tank and the second chamber of the chilling tank for circulating the second refrigerant from the first chamber to the second chamber;
• wherein, in use, when activated by the temperature sensor because of the water in the cold water storage tank being at or above the cold water tank lower temperature limit, the first refrigerant chills the second refrigerant and the circulation pump pumps the second refrigerant from the first chamber to the second chamber of the chilling tank to put the second refrigerant in contact with an outside of the cold water storage tank and an outside of the plurality of water coils to chill water contained within each for dispensing through the water dispensing nozzle;
• and
• wherein, after contacting the outside of the cold water storage tank and the outside of the plurality of water coils, the second refrigerant returns to the first chamber of the chilling tank;
• monitoring the temperature of the water in the cold water storage tank using the temperature sensor;
• and when the temperature of the water in the cold water storage tank rises above the cold water storage tank lower temperature limit, energizing the closed-cycle refrigeration system to circulate the first refrigerant;
• circulating the first refrigerant through the plurality of refrigerant coils in the first chamber of the chilling tank, wherein the first refrigerant in the plurality of refrigerant coils chills the second refrigerant disposed in the first chamber of the chilling tank;
• energizing the second refrigerant circulation pump to pump the chilled second refrigerant from the first chamber of the chilling tank to the second chamber of the chilling tank, wherein the second refrigerant flows inside the second chamber of the chilling tank, down the outside of, and in contact with, the plurality of water inlet coils and down the outside of, and in contact with, the outside of the cold water storage tank, wherein the second refrigerant chills water contained inside the plurality of water inlet coils and inside the cold water storage tank;
• and
• when activated, dispensing cold water from the water dispensing nozzle at a temperature below 8° C.