Cooking Oven Cycle Sorting Algorithm to Minimize Energy Consumption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for operating professional cooking ovens do not effectively minimize energy consumption when executing multiple cooking cycles in sequence, as they rely on general energetic constraints that do not account for actual temperature and humidity values, leading to suboptimal energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A method that sorts cooking cycles using a sorting algorithm based on pre-set starting and final temperatures and humidities to minimize energy consumption, taking into account transient phases and specific cooking cycle requirements, including the use of a polynomial function to calculate energy variations between cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cooking cycles are sorted using general energetic constraints (e.g., convective before steam, by decreasing temperature), then the sorting process is simple and fast, but the actual energy consumption is not minimized because specific temperature and humidity values are not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from general categorical sorting (convective vs. steam) to specific numerical parameter-based sorting (actual temperature and humidity values). The control unit calculates energy consumption based on precise temperature differences and humidity variations between consecutive cooking cycles, allowing optimization of the cooking sequence to minimize total energy consumption while maintaining computational efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If cooking cycles are sorted based on specific temperature and humidity values to minimize energy consumption, then energy efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases due to more complex calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit performs self-service by automatically calculating energy consumption for different cooking cycle sequences using stored temperature and humidity data. The system retrieves pre-stored cooking cycle parameters, computes energy requirements based on transient phases between cycles, and autonomously determines the optimal sequence without requiring external intervention or complex additional hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing temperature and humidity values for all cooking cycles in the control unit's memory before execution. This allows the control unit to perform rapid energy consumption calculations during sorting by referencing pre-prepared data, rather than measuring or computing these parameters in real-time during the sorting process.
3Productivity
If the sorting algorithm considers only transient phases between cycles, then the calculation is simplified and faster, but the overall energy consumption during cooking cycles is not optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by considering the entire cooking process as a continuous sequence, where the end state of one cooking cycle directly influences the start state of the next. The sorting algorithm evaluates energy consumption across the complete sequence of cooking cycles, maintaining continuous optimization from the first cycle through the last, rather than treating each cycle as an isolated event.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a method for operating a cooking oven comprising: a cooking chamber; a heating device for heating foodstuff contained in the cooking chamber; a database wherein cooking cycles are stored; a control unit operatively connected to the database and to the heating device, configured for activating/deactivating the heating device according to the cooking cycles; and a user interface operatively connected to the control unit. The method comprises the following phases: (a) selecting, by the user interface, a new list of two or more of cooking cycles stored in the database, to be executed in sequence; (b) sorting, by the control unit, the cooking cycles of the new list, using a sorting algorithm that calculates the order of the cooking cycles of the new list and (c) displaying, via the user interface, a sorted list containing the cooking cycles of the new list.