Composite Heating Layer Structure for Uniform Ceramic Cooking Heat

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliances using inorganic materials like ceramic and glass suffer from low heat transfer efficiency, fragility, and safety concerns due to inadequate heat distribution and thermal stress, leading to prolonged heating times and potential safety hazards.

Innovation Solution

A heat-generating assembly comprising two non-metal plates with a heating layer made of an inorganic oxide matrix and metal powder particles, where the particles are arranged in specific configurations to enhance heat transfer efficiency, uniformity, and stability, reducing thermal stress and the risk of cracking or peeling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If glass or ceramic materials are used for the heating element, then chemical stability and environmental friendliness are improved, but heat transfer efficiency and toughness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical stabilityVSAvoidheat transfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element uses a composite structure combining glass substrate with metal powder particles (such as aluminum, magnesium, or zinc) dispersed within a glass matrix. This composite material leverages the chemical stability and thermal resistance of glass while incorporating the high thermal conductivity of metal particles, achieving both chemical stability and improved heat transfer efficiency simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates local quality variations by distributing metal powder particles non-uniformly within the glass matrix. The metal particles are concentrated in specific regions to form heat transfer channels, while other regions maintain the glass's chemical stability. This local differentiation allows different parts of the material to perform different functions optimally

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If conventional heat-generating tubes or plates are used, then the assembly structure is simplified, but heat transfer efficiency deteriorates due to small contact area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly structureVSAvoidheat transfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element employs a porous glass structure with metal powder particles distributed within the pores and voids. This porous configuration dramatically increases the internal surface area and creates multiple heat transfer pathways, enabling efficient heat conduction from the heating element to the water without requiring complex external heat exchange structures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Loss of energy

If thick film heating is applied to glass plates, then thermal efficiency and heating uniformity are improved, but manufacturing complexity and safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal efficiencyVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the fundamental parameter of heat generation from surface-level thick film circuits to volumetric heat generation throughout the glass matrix. By dispersing metal powder particles throughout the glass volume, heat is generated uniformly throughout the material rather than at a thin surface layer, eliminating the need for complex circuit printing while achieving excellent thermal efficiency and uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If glass materials are used for heating, then chemical stability is improved, but toughness and resistance to thermal stress deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical stabilityVSAvoidtoughness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The composite structure of glass matrix with metal powder particles creates a material that combines the chemical stability of glass with the ductility and thermal conductivity of metals. The metal particles act as stress distributors, preventing crack propagation and reducing thermal stress concentration, thereby improving overall toughness while maintaining chemical stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The metal powder particles are strategically distributed within the glass matrix to create local regions of enhanced toughness and stress resistance. These metal-rich zones act as reinforcement phases that prevent crack propagation and absorb thermal stress, while the surrounding glass matrix maintains chemical stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 solution significantly improves heating efficiency, uniformity, and stability, reducing heating times and extending the service life of cooking devices while enhancing safety by minimizing thermal stress and the risk of fractures.

Implementation Method 1

The heating layer includes an inorganic oxide matrix, and metal powder particles distributed in the inorganic oxide matrix

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectResistive heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

heating efficiency, heating uniformity and heating stability of the heat-generating assembly are improved

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentEP4207946B1Heat-generating assembly, cooking appliance and cooking device
Publication Date: 2024.07.10 FOSHAN SHUNDE MIDEA ELECTRICAL HEATING APPLIANCES MFG CO LTD
  • EP4207946B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4207946B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP4207946B1 patent drawingFigure 7~9

AI summary

Provided are a heat-generating assembly, a cooking appliance, and a cooking device. The heat-generating assembly includes two non-metal plates, and a heating layer located between the non-metal plates. The heating layer includes metal powder particles and an inorganic oxide matrix. The metal powder particles are distributed in the inorganic oxide matrix. In at least part of the heating layer, a plurality of particle aggregates is formed by the metal powder particles and arranged in a thickness direction of the heating layer. Therefore, heating efficiency and heating uniformity of the heat-generating assembly is improved. Meanwhile, thermal stress generated during the heating is reduced, and risk of cracking and inter-layer peeling of the heating layer is reduced.