Baking Oven Pressure Control Using Feedback-Adjusted Fresh Air Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern baking ovens face challenges in maintaining consistent pressure within the baking chamber due to chimney draft variations, leading to reduced heat transfer, extended baking times, and increased energy consumption, as well as dough shrinkage due to pressure fluctuations during the baking process.

Innovation Solution

A pressure sensor measures the differential pressure between the baking chamber and ambient pressure, sending signals to a control unit that adjusts the fresh air opening to maintain ambient pressure within the chamber, using a motor-adjustable flow cross section to regulate airflow and prevent pressure fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stress or pressure

If the chimney draft is strong, then the negative pressure in the baking chamber increases, but the heat transfer to dough pieces decreases and baking time extends

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenegative pressure in baking chamberVSAvoidbaking time
Core Design Contradiction:
Stress or pressureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

A pressure sensor continuously measures the pressure in the baking chamber and transmits this information to a control unit. The control unit adjusts the fresh air opening based on the measured pressure to maintain optimal baking conditions, creating a closed-loop feedback system that resolves the contradiction between chimney draft pressure and baking efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The fresh air opening is designed with motor-adjustable flow cross-section that can dynamically change during the baking process. The control unit modifies the opening degree in response to pressure changes and baking stage, allowing the system to adapt to varying conditions and maintain optimal heat transfer while managing pressure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Manufacturing precision

If the fresh air opening is opened early, then the desired baking result is achieved for certain products, but cold air is added to the baking atmosphere

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebaking result qualityVSAvoidbaking atmosphere temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure sensor and control unit work together to monitor and regulate the fresh air opening timing. The system delays opening the fresh air opening until the pressure sensor detects appropriate pressure conditions, ensuring that cold air is not introduced until the optimal moment for achieving the desired baking result

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit is programmed with predetermined control strategies that prepare the system in advance. It monitors pressure conditions and waits for the optimal moment to open the fresh air opening, ensuring that the action of opening occurs at the precise time needed for quality without prematurely introducing cold air

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the chimney draft varies with weather, then the pressure conditions change, but the baking time must be extended to compensate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweather adaptationVSAvoidbaking time extension
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The pressure sensor continuously monitors pressure changes caused by varying chimney drafts due to weather conditions. The control unit automatically adjusts the fresh air opening to compensate for these variations, maintaining optimal baking conditions without requiring manual intervention or extended baking times

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The control system automatically detects and compensates for weather-related pressure variations without external intervention. The pressure sensor and control unit work together to self-regulate the fresh air opening, eliminating the need for baker experience-based adjustments and preventing baking time extensions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution ensures consistent baking results by maintaining ambient pressure, reducing dough shrinkage, minimizing energy consumption, and eliminating the need for vapor traps, resulting in improved baking volume and consistency of pastries.

Implementation Method 1

a pressure sensor measures the pressure in the baking chamber, the pressure sensor being a differential pressure sensor which measures the pressure difference between the baking chamber pressure and the ambient pressure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDifferential pressure measurement: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 2

The chimney usually has a design-related and temperature-related draught, which means that a negative pressure is created in the chimney, which ensures that the vapors and gases in the chimney are sucked from the bottom up

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal convection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

a negative pressure is created in the chimney, which ensures that the vapors and gases in the chimney are sucked from the bottom up

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentEP2992760B1Baking oven and baking method with optimized baking area pressure
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 MIWE MICHAEL WENZ
  • EP2992760B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2992760B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2992760B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an oven (1) with a baking chamber (10) which is provided with an outlet opening (3) leading to a chimney through which air can escape from the baking chamber (10) and which has a fresh air opening (5) with a motor having an adjustable flow cross-section between the baking chamber (10) and the environment. The object of the invention is to optimally adjust the pressure conditions within the baking chamber during the entire baking process. This object is achieved in that a pressure sensor (8) measures the pressure in the baking chamber (10) and transmits the measurement signals to a control unit (7), which controls the adjustable flow cross section of the fresh air opening (5) on the basis of the measurement signals from the pressure sensor (8). , The control unit being adjustable in such a way that ambient pressure prevails in the baking chamber (10) during the baking process.