Steam generator and cooking equipment

Abstract

The utility model relates to a steam generator and cooking equipment, which can generate high-temperature steam in a microgravity environment to cook food and meet the taste and taste requirements of passengers. The steam generator comprises a water supply pipe which is provided with a water supply flow channel and a plurality of capillary holes communicated with the water supply flow channel; the water absorption piece is fixedly connected to the water supply pipe so as to cover the capillary holes, and the water absorption piece is provided with a porous structure and is used for absorbing water under the capillary action; and the heating piece is arranged on the water absorption piece and is used for heating the water absorption piece to generate steam.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of steam generation technology, and in particular to a steam generator and cooking equipment. Background Technology

[0002] As a special group of people, astronauts working in microgravity face significant limitations, not only in the diversity of their food but also in the methods of food preparation. Currently, there are no food steaming devices available in microgravity, only a low-temperature, low-pressure evaporation process. However, there is still a need to enrich the crew's menu, improve the taste of food, and enhance the cooking experience.

[0003] In addition, in household products on the ground (such as steam-microwave combination ovens, steam-oven combination ovens, or steam-microwave-oven combination ovens), steaming food usually adopts the following two methods: The first is the heating element method, which involves pressing the heating element and water pipe into an aluminum block. The heating element first heats the aluminum block at high temperature, and then the aluminum block transfers the heat to the water pipe, causing the water inside the pipe to evaporate and heat the food; The second method is to add water directly through a water pump, so that the water flows to the heating plate at the bottom of the product's inner cavity and is then heated into steam.

[0004] However, both of the above solutions have many problems in a microgravity environment: the water in the pipe (or on the heating plate) will not adhere to the pipe wall (or plate surface) without gravity, but will float in the pipe (or cavity) in clumps, which will affect the heating of the water and result in very low evaporation efficiency. The steam generated will contain a large amount of liquid water. When the water adhering to the pipe wall (or plate surface) generates bubbles when heated, the bubbles will not float due to the lack of gravity. They will not only not detach from the water surface, but will also accumulate on the pipe wall (or plate surface), which will seriously affect the direct transfer of heat to the liquid water.

[0005] In addition, both of the above solutions also carry the risk of dry burning, which can lead to excessively high local temperatures and increase the frequency of maintenance. Utility Model Content

[0006] Based on this, it is necessary to address the problem that existing food steaming methods cannot be used in space stations due to water not adhering to the walls in a microgravity environment. This application provides a steam generator and cooking equipment that can generate high-temperature steam in a microgravity environment to cook food and meet the taste and texture requirements of the crew.

[0007] According to one aspect of this application, one embodiment of this application provides a steam generator, comprising:

[0008] A water supply pipe having a water supply channel and multiple capillaries communicating with the water supply channel;

[0009] A water-absorbing element, wherein the water-absorbing element is fixedly connected to the water supply pipe to cover the capillary pores, and the water-absorbing element has a porous structure for absorbing water under capillary action; and

[0010] A heating element is disposed on the water-absorbing element for heating the water-absorbing element to generate steam.

[0011] In one embodiment of this application, the absorbent element is selected from one or more of porous ceramic parts, porous polymer parts, and porous alloy parts.

[0012] In one embodiment of this application, the pore density of the absorbent is greater than 400 ppi.

[0013] In one embodiment of this application, the capillary pores are channels formed on the wall of the water supply pipe with a diameter between 20 μm and 100 μm.

[0014] In one embodiment of this application, the heating element is an electric heating wire wound around the water-absorbing element.

[0015] In one embodiment of this application, the steam generator further includes a flow equalization device disposed on the water supply pipe; the flow equalization device is a mesh plate with evenly distributed holes of equal diameter.

[0016] In one embodiment of this application, the steam generator further includes a water storage container connected to the water supply pipe, a water pump disposed on the water supply pipe, and a preheater disposed on the water supply pipe; the water storage container is a water storage bag; the preheater is a preheating water bag, and the water pump is located in the pipeline between the water storage container and the preheater.

[0017] In one embodiment of this application, the water supply pipe includes a connector section and a delivery pipe section communicating with the connector section; the capillary pores are formed in the pipe wall of the connector section, and the connector section is inserted into the water absorption member.

[0018] According to another aspect of this application, one embodiment of this application further provides a cooking apparatus, comprising:

[0019] Cooking box, used to hold food; and

[0020] The steam generator described above is partially located inside the cooking chamber and is used to supply steam to the cooking chamber to cook the food located inside the cooking chamber.

[0021] In one embodiment of this application, the cooking chamber includes a steaming cavity housing the water-absorbing element and the heating element of the steam generator, and an in-cavity heating element disposed within the steaming cavity; the cooking device further includes a recovery pipe connected to the cooking chamber, a fan disposed on the recovery pipe, and a condenser disposed on the recovery pipe.

[0022] In summary, the steam generator of this application not only utilizes capillary force to replace uncontrollable flow pumps or flow valves, allowing liquid water supplied through the water supply channel to stably permeate into the water-absorbing element through the capillary pores under capillary action, but also, as the heating process proceeds, the liquid water gradually vaporizes to form bubbles. These bubbles float outward along the pore walls of the porous structure. Furthermore, since the liquid water is distributed across the entire material of the water-absorbing element, its local surface tension is very small (compared to a large water mass), allowing steam to smoothly escape from the water-absorbing element due to the volume expansion when changing from liquid to gas, thereby filling the cooking chamber to steam food in a microgravity environment, thus satisfying the taste and texture requirements of passengers.

[0023] Furthermore, as the vapor on the surface of the absorbent component is removed, a pressure difference (capillary action) is generated inside the absorbent component, causing liquid water to be continuously transported, evaporated, and removed from the inside out, forming a continuous process. This ensures the continuous generation of steam and avoids the heat insulation problem caused by gas-liquid mixing, as seen in existing heating tubes or heating plates. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a cooking device according to an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 2 A partial structural schematic diagram of a steam generator in a cooking apparatus according to the above embodiments of this application is shown.

[0026] Explanation of key component symbols:

[0027] 10. Steam generator; 11. Water supply pipe; 1101. Water supply channel; 1102. Capillary pore; 111. Connecting pipe section; 112. Delivery pipe section; 12. Water suction element; 13. Heating element; 14. Flow equalization device; 15. Water storage container; 16. Water pump; 17. Preheater; 20. Cooking box; 21. Steaming chamber; 22. In-cavity heating element; 30. Recovery pipe; 40. Fan; 50. Condenser.

[0028] The above description of the main component symbols, together with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments, provides a further detailed explanation of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0030] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential", etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0031] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0032] In this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "joining," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0033] Considering that existing food steaming methods not only fail to adhere to the pipe wall (or plate surface) in a microgravity environment, but also clump together and float in the water pipe (or inner cavity), affecting the heating of the water and resulting in very low evaporation efficiency, the final steam will contain a large amount of liquid water; and even if some water adheres to the pipe wall (or plate surface), the bubbles generated by heating will not float due to the lack of gravity, and will easily accumulate on the pipe wall (or plate surface), thus seriously affecting the direct transfer of heat to the liquid water; therefore, this application provides a cooking device that can generate high-temperature steam in a microgravity environment to cook food, meeting the taste and texture requirements of passengers.

[0034] Specifically, see the attached document. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, one embodiment of this application provides a cooking apparatus that may include a steam generator 10 for generating high-temperature steam and a cooking chamber 20 for holding food W. The steam generator 10 is partially located within the cooking chamber 20 and is used to supply high-temperature steam to the cooking chamber 20 to cook the food W located within the cooking chamber 20. It is understood that the cooking chamber 20 mentioned in this application may, but is not limited to, be implemented as a steamer.

[0035] More specifically, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the steam generator 10 may include a water supply pipe 11, a water suction element 12, and a heating element 13. The water supply pipe 11 has a water supply channel 1101 and a plurality of capillary pores 1102 communicating with the water supply channel 1101. The water suction element 12 is fixedly connected to the water supply pipe 11 to cover the capillary pores 1102, and the water suction element 12 has a porous structure for absorbing water under capillary action. The heating element 13 is disposed on the water suction element 12 for heating the water suction element 12 to generate steam. It is understood that both the water suction element 12 and the heating element 13 are located inside the cooking chamber 20, so that the generated steam is directly released inside the cooking chamber 20 for steaming the food W located inside the cooking chamber 20.

[0036] It is worth noting that the steam generator 10 of this application not only utilizes capillary force to replace an uncontrollable flow pump or flow valve, allowing liquid water supplied through the water supply channel 1101 to stably permeate into the water absorption element 12 through the capillary pores 1102 under capillary action, but also, as the heating process proceeds, the liquid water gradually vaporizes to form bubbles, which float outward along the pore walls of the porous structure. In addition, the liquid water is distributed on the entire material of the water absorption element 12, and its local surface tension is very small (compared to a large water mass), so that the steam will smoothly escape from the water absorption element 12 under the volume expansion effect when changing from liquid to gas, and then fill the cooking box 20 to steam food W in a microgravity environment, which is convenient to meet the taste and texture requirements of the passengers. It is understandable that as the vapor on the surface of the water-absorbing element 12 is removed, a pressure difference (capillary action) will be generated inside the water-absorbing element 12, causing liquid water to be continuously transported, evaporated and removed from the inside out, forming a continuous process, ensuring the continuous generation of steam, and avoiding the heat insulation problem caused by gas-liquid mixing as seen in existing heating tubes or heating plates.

[0037] Furthermore, the absorbent 12 can be made of porous ceramic materials such as alumina ceramics, silicon carbide ceramics, or zirconia ceramics; it can also be made of porous polymer materials such as foam plastics or fibers; or it can be made of other porous materials such as porous alloys, as long as it can absorb water through capillary action while being heat-resistant. This application will not elaborate further on these aspects. It is understood that the porous structure of the absorbent 12 refers to an interconnected open-pore structure that forms steam channels to ensure smooth steam discharge.

[0038] For example, the pore density of the absorbent 12 can be greater than 400 ppi to ensure that the absorbent 12 has good water absorption capacity.

[0039] Optionally, such as Figure 1 As shown, the capillary pore 1102 is implemented as a channel formed on the wall of the water supply pipe 11 with a pore size between 20 μm and 100 μm, in order to provide a large capillary force and ensure that liquid water flows quickly from the water supply channel 1101 to the water absorption element 12 for efficient absorption. It is understood that the capillary pore 1102 mentioned in this application can be, but is not limited to, machined from the metal pipe wall.

[0040] Optionally, such as Figure 1As shown, the water supply pipe 11 includes a connector section 111 located inside the cooking oven 20 and a delivery pipe section 112 located outside the cooking oven 20 and communicating with the connector section 111; the capillary pore 1102 is formed in the pipe wall of the connector section 111, and the connector section 111 is inserted into the water absorber 12, ensuring that the water absorber 12 completely covers all the capillary pores 1102, so that all the liquid water transported through the capillary pores 1102 is absorbed by the water absorber 12.

[0041] Optionally, such as Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the heating element 13 is implemented as an electric heating wire wound around the water-absorbing element 12, so that the surface of the electric heating wire can always be wetted by the water absorbed by the water-absorbing element 12, and dry burning will not occur. It can be understood that the electric heating wire mentioned in this application can be directly wound around the outer peripheral surface of the water-absorbing element 12, or it can be wound around the water-absorbing element 12 in a partially embedded manner, so as to increase the contact area between the electric heating wire and the water-absorbing element 12.

[0042] It is worth noting that the heating power of the electric heating wire is no more than 700W in order to meet the peak power requirements of the cooking equipment.

[0043] Furthermore, in the above embodiments of this application, such as Figure 1 As shown, the cooking oven 20 may include a steaming cavity 21 that houses the water-absorbing element 12 and the heating element 13, and an internal heating element 22 disposed within the steaming cavity 21 for heating the steaming cavity 21 and preventing steam from condensing on the inner wall of the steaming cavity 21.

[0044] Optionally, the heating element 22 inside the cavity is implemented as an electric heating film attached to the inner wall of the steaming cavity 21, so as to better heat the steaming cavity 21.

[0045] Optionally, the heating power of the electric heating film is no more than 100W, ensuring that the peak power requirement of the cooking equipment is less than or equal to 800W.

[0046] According to the above embodiments of this application, as Figure 1 As shown, the steam generator 10 may also include a flow equalization device 14 disposed in the water supply pipe 11 for dispersing the liquid water flowing in the water supply channel 1101 so as to better penetrate into the water absorption element 12 through the capillary pores 1102.

[0047] Optionally, such as Figure 1 As shown, the flow equalization device 14 is implemented as a mesh plate with evenly distributed holes of equal diameter in the delivery pipe section 112 of the water supply pipe 11, so as to disperse large water masses into small water droplets, which are conducive to being absorbed by multiple capillaries 1102 to penetrate into various parts of the water absorption member 12.

[0048] Optionally, such as Figure 1 As shown, the steam generator 10 further includes a water storage container 15 connected to a delivery pipe section 112 of the water supply pipe 11 and a water pump 16 disposed on the water supply pipe 11. Water stored in the water storage container 15 flows into the water supply pipe 11 under the action of the water pump 16, and flows along the water supply channel 1101 of the water supply pipe 11 to the capillary pore 1102, and then, under positive pressure, permeates into the water suction element 12 through the capillary pore 1102. It is understood that the water storage container 15 mentioned in this application can be, but is not limited to, a water storage bag, so that the water storage volume changes with the amount of water stored, in order to better handle liquid water.

[0049] It is worth noting that, in order to improve steam generation efficiency, such as Figure 1 As shown, the steam generator 10 of this application may further include a preheater 17 disposed on the water supply pipe 11 for preheating the liquid water transported through the water supply pipe 11, increasing the water temperature that permeates through the capillary pores 1102 to the water suction member 12, so that the heating element 13 heats the water absorbed by the water suction member 12 to the boiling point for efficient evaporation. It is understood that the preheater 17 may, but is not limited to, preheat the liquid water to a temperature close to the boiling point, such as 99°C at atmospheric pressure.

[0050] Optionally, such as Figure 1 As shown, the water pump 16 is located in the pipeline between the water storage container 15 and the preheater 17, which is implemented as a preheating water bag to better preheat the liquid water delivered via the water supply pipe 11. It is understood that both the water pump 16 and the preheater 17 are located in the delivery section 112 of the water supply pipe 11, outside the cooking tank 20.

[0051] Furthermore, the cooking oven 20 will still be full of steam when cooking is complete (or the steaming process ends). To improve energy efficiency, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the cooking device of this application may further include a recovery pipe 30 connected to the cooking chamber 20, a fan 40 disposed on the recovery pipe 30, and a condenser 50 disposed on the recovery pipe 30. In this way, when cooking is completed (or the steaming process ends), the steam in the cooking chamber 20 is transported to the condenser 50 through the recovery pipe 30 by the fan 40 for condensation into water, so as to be recycled; at the same time, when the user opens the cooking chamber 20 to take out the food W, the problem of hot steam hitting the face can be well avoided.

[0052] Optionally, such as Figure 1 As shown, the recovery pipe 30 is connected to the water storage container 15 so as to collect the water condensed by the condenser 50 through the water storage container 15 for recycling.

[0053] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0054] The above embodiments are merely illustrative of several implementation methods of this application, and their descriptions are quite specific and detailed. However, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these modifications and improvements all fall within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. Steam generator, characterized in that, include: A water supply pipe having a water supply channel and multiple capillaries communicating with the water supply channel; A water-absorbing element, wherein the water-absorbing element is fixedly connected to the water supply pipe to cover the capillary pores, and the water-absorbing element has a porous structure for absorbing water under capillary action; as well as A heating element is disposed on the water-absorbing element for heating the water-absorbing element to generate steam.

2. The steam generator of claim 1, wherein The absorbent component is selected from one or more of porous ceramic components, porous polymer components, and porous alloy components.

3. The steam generator of claim 1, wherein, The pore density of the absorbent is greater than 400 ppi.

4. The steam generator of claim 1, wherein The capillaries are channels formed on the wall of the water supply pipe with a diameter between 20um and 100um.

5. The steam generator of claim 1, wherein The heating element is an electric heating wire wound around the water-absorbing element.

6. The steam generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that The steam generator also includes a flow equalization device installed on the water supply pipe; the flow equalization device is a mesh plate with evenly distributed holes of equal diameter.

7. The steam generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The steam generator further includes a water storage container connected to the water supply pipe, a water pump installed in the water supply pipe, and a preheater installed in the water supply pipe; the water storage container is a water storage bag; the preheater is a preheating water bag, and the water pump is located in the pipeline between the water storage container and the preheater.

8. The steam generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The water supply pipe includes a connector section and a delivery pipe section communicating with the connector section; the capillary pores are formed in the pipe wall of the connector section, and the connector section is inserted into the water absorption element.

9. Cooking apparatus, characterized in that include: A cooking container, used to hold food; and The steam generator as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the steam generator is partially located within the cooking chamber for supplying steam to the cooking chamber to cook the food located within the cooking chamber.

10. The cooking apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, The cooking chamber includes a steaming cavity housing the water-absorbing element and the heating element of the steam generator, and an internal heating element disposed within the steaming cavity; the cooking device also includes a recovery pipe connected to the cooking chamber, a fan disposed on the recovery pipe, and a condenser disposed on the recovery pipe.

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