Cooking Appliance Controller Dynamic Phase Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooking appliances in professional kitchens often have a high nominal connected load due to multiple electrical loads, leading to uneven phase loading when all loads are not simultaneously active, which can result in reduced power output and complicated connection conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for controlling cooking appliances that dynamically distribute electrical loads across multiple phases of a power connection to achieve symmetrical loading, using a controller to switch loads between phases based on current and future power demands, ensuring balanced phase loads and minimizing peak current consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If electrical loads are permanently connected to specific phases, then the phase load distribution is simplified, but uneven phase loading occurs when multiple loads are activated simultaneously, requiring higher connected load or power limitation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic phase switching that automatically redistributes electrical loads across available phases based on real-time load conditions. The controller monitors phase loads and switches loads between phases to maintain balanced distribution, transforming the static phase connection into a dynamic system that adapts to changing operational conditions, thereby preventing uneven phase loading without requiring higher connected load capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of electrical loads by switching their phase connections dynamically. Instead of fixed phase assignments, the controller adjusts which phase each load connects to based on current phase load levels, effectively changing the electrical parameters (phase assignment) to maintain optimal balance and prevent any single phase from being overloaded
2Ease of manufacture
If electrical loads are limited by controller to not exceed maximum current consumption per phase, then connection conditions remain simple, but the power consumption and output potential of the cooking appliance are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic phase switching that allows electrical loads to operate at full power by automatically redistributing them across available phases. When one phase approaches its current limit, the controller switches loads to other phases with available capacity, maintaining simple three-phase connection conditions while preventing power limitation and preserving the appliance's full output potential
3Productivity
If all electrical loads connected to one phase are switched on simultaneously, then the phase load becomes unbalanced, but this requires either higher connected load or power consumption limitation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the phase assignment parameter for electrical loads based on real-time monitoring of phase load conditions. When multiple loads connected to the same phase are activated simultaneously, the controller automatically switches some loads to different phases, maintaining balanced phase distribution and allowing simultaneous operation of all loads without requiring higher connected load capacity
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a method of controlling a cooking appliance which includes at least one electrical load and a controller. The electrical load is variably connected to at least one of a plurality of phases of a power connection. The phase is selected from among the plurality of phases. Furthermore, a cooking appliance and a heating element are described.