Heating device for machines for dispensing hot beverages, machine for dispensing hot beverages using said heating device, and method for simultaneously dispensing hot beverages by means of said machine

Machine for dispensing hot beverages configured to dispense a first fluid flow and a second fluid flow, said machine comprising:

• a heating device configured to heat a first fluid flow and a second fluid flow which is distinct from the first fluid flow, said heating device comprising:
• a main body defining a heating chamber;
• a supply duct extending in the heating chamber along an axial direction and having a plurality of supply openings distributed along the axial direction, the supply duct being configured to supply in the heating chamber a heating flow radially to the axial direction through the supply openings;
• a first tubular circuit, configured to convey the first fluid flow to be heated, having a first helical section extending in the heating chamber around the axial direction creating first coils surrounding the supply duct;
• a second tubular circuit, configured to convey the second fluid flow to be heated, provided with a second helical section extending in the heating chamber around the axial direction creating second coils surrounding the supply duct, the second helical section being coaxial with the first helical section, the first coils and the second coils being alternated along the axial direction;
• a steam generation unit configured to supply a heating flow of water vapour to the supply duct of the heating device;
• a first hydraulic line configured to be placed in fluid-dynamic communication with a first source, fluid-dynamically connected with the first tubular circuit of the heating device, and having a first dispensing nozzle, said first hydraulic line comprising a first pump configured to generate the first fluid flow directed from the first source to the first dispensing nozzle;
• a second hydraulic line configured to be placed in fluid-dynamic communication with a second source, fluid-dynamically connected with the second tubular circuit of the heating device, and provided with a second dispensing nozzle, said second hydraulic line comprising a second pump configured to generate the second fluid flow directed from the second source to the second dispensing nozzle.

Method for simultaneously dispensing:

• a first hot beverage at a first temperature obtained by heating a first fluid flow;
• and
• a second hot beverage at a second temperature, equal to or less than the first temperature, obtained by heating a second fluid flow by means of a hot beverage dispensing machine configured to dispense a first fluid flow and a second fluid flow, said machine comprising:
• a heating device configured to heat a first fluid flow and a second fluid flow which is distinct from the first fluid flow, said heating device comprising:
• a main body defining a heating chamber;
• a supply duct extending in the heating chamber along an axial direction and having a plurality of supply openings distributed along the axial direction, the supply duct being configured to supply in the heating chamber a heating flow radially to the axial direction through the supply openings;
• a first tubular circuit, configured to convey the first fluid flow to be heated, having a first helical section extending in the heating chamber around the axial direction creating first coils surrounding the supply duct;
• a second tubular circuit, configured to convey the second fluid flow to be heated, provided with a second helical section extending in the heating chamber around the axial direction creating second coils surrounding the supply duct, the second helical section being coaxial with the first helical section, the first coils and the second coils being alternated along the axial direction;
• a steam generation unit configured to supply a heating flow of water vapour to the supply duct of the heating device;
• a first hydraulic line configured to be placed in fluid-dynamic communication with a first source, fluid-dynamically connected with the first tubular circuit of the heating device, and having a first dispensing nozzle, said first hydraulic line comprising a first pump configured to generate the first fluid flow directed from the first source to the first dispensing nozzle;
• a second hydraulic line configured to be placed in fluid-dynamic communication with a second source, fluid-dynamically connected with the second tubular circuit of the heating device, and provided with a second dispensing nozzle, said second hydraulic line comprising a second pump configured to generate the second fluid flow directed from the second source to the second dispensing nozzle,
• said method comprising the steps of:
• operating the steam generation unit to supply a heating flow of water vapour to the supply duct of the heating device, said heating flow being such as to heat the first fluid flow having a first flow rate value to the first temperature;
• actuating the first pump and the second pump to simultaneously generate the first fluid flow having the first flow rate value in the first hydraulic line and the second fluid flow having a second flow rate value in the second hydraulic line,
• wherein the second flow rate value is selected so that the second fluid flow is brought to the second temperature downstream of the heating device, the second flow rate value being greater than or equal to the first flow rate value.