Method and apparatus for controlling and cleaning a cooking hood
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Solution Overview
Problem
Commercial kitchen ventilation systems face challenges in controlling airflow and managing grease accumulation, particularly in multi-stage filtration systems, necessitating improved cleaning methods and airflow management to enhance ventilation efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation system with a primary and secondary filter configuration, including a pressure sensor and controllable shutters, combined with a cleaning method using sequential spraying of liquid mixtures and varying airflow to effectively clean the secondary filter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a multi-stage filtration system with primary and secondary filters is implemented, then ventilation efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation system is divided into multiple filtration stages: a primary filter (baffle filter) for initial grease separation and a secondary filter (foam filter) for fine particle removal. This segmentation allows each filter to specialize in specific particle sizes, improving overall ventilation efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary filter is positioned downstream within the air filtration chamber, nested after the primary filter. This nested arrangement allows the finer foam filter to work in conjunction with the coarser baffle filter, creating a hierarchical filtration system that maximizes particle removal efficiency across different size ranges
2Object-generated harmful factors
If cleaning agents and water are sprayed onto filters to remove grease, then grease accumulation is reduced, but device complexity increases due to cleaning system requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system utilizes the existing ventilation airflow and simple spray mechanisms to clean the filters automatically during operation. The system sprays cleaning solution onto the filters and uses the ventilation fan's airflow to rinse them, allowing the ventilation system to clean itself without requiring separate complex cleaning equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation fan serves dual functions: it drives the airflow for ventilation purposes and simultaneously provides the rinsing action for filter cleaning. The spray system uses the same cleaning solution for both primary and secondary filters, creating a multi-functional cleaning approach that reduces overall system complexity
3Productivity
If airflow is increased to improve ventilation, then ventilation efficiency is improved, but grease accumulation on filters increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary cleaning by spraying cleaning solution onto the filters before the grease accumulates to problematic levels. The automated cleaning cycle detects when filters need cleaning and applies cleaning solution proactively, preventing excessive grease buildup even during high airflow operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the chemical parameters of the air stream by introducing cleaning agents through spray nozzles. This chemical modification allows the airflow to carry both ventilation function and cleaning function, enabling high airflow rates without proportional increases in grease accumulation on filter surfaces
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
The system effectively manages airflow and cleans the secondary filter, reducing grease accumulation and improving ventilation efficiency by using a combination of pressure sensing, controllable shutters, and sequential cleaning with varying airflow rates.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure sensor located between the at least one primary filter and the at least one secondary filter. The pressure measured by the pressure sensor is indicative of the presence of the at least one primary filter
Implementation Method 2
an exhaust air propeller generating an airflow at least between an air space located above the at least one cooking appliance, sequentially into the at least one primary filter and the at least one secondary filter located inside the air filtration chamber
Implementation Method 3
spraying a first liquid mixture including water and a cleaning agent towards an inlet surface of the at least one secondary filter; and spraying a second liquid mixture including water and a cleaning agent towards an outlet surface of the at least one secondary filter
Data Source
AI summary
A method to clean at least one secondary filter located inside an air filtration chamber of a ventilation system of a commercial kitchen is provided. The air filtration chamber is in gas communication with an exhaust conduit of the ventilation system. The method comprises: spraying a first liquid mixture including water and a cleaning agent towards an inlet surface of the at least one secondary filter; and spraying a second liquid mixture including water and a cleaning agent towards an outlet surface of the at least one secondary filter, wherein spraying the first liquid mixture and spraying the second liquid mixture is carried out sequentially. There is also provided a commercial cooking assembly comprising: at least one cooking appliance; and a ventilation system.