Cooktop appliance vaporization-responsive closed-loop-controls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooktop appliances with traditional closed-loop control algorithms struggle to accurately control temperature in the presence of moisture vaporization, often leading to excessive power usage and cooking issues like overcooking and splattering.
Innovation Solution
A cooktop appliance with a user interface, temperature sensors, and a controller that initiates a precision mode with a vaporization timer to adjust heating element power based on temperature measurements, freezing the precision mode when the temperature remains within a vaporization band to prevent excessive heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional closed-loop control algorithms are used to control heating elements, then temperature control is simplified, but temperature accuracy deteriorates during moisture vaporization causing excessive power usage and overcooking
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the control parameters by introducing a vaporization timer and vaporization band temperature range. When the temperature enters the vaporization band (e.g., 200-250°F) and the vaporization timer expires, the system modifies the control algorithm to freeze the precision mode, preventing excessive power adjustment that would occur with traditional algorithms during vaporization events.
Solution Approach 2:
The vaporization timer acts as an intermediary mechanism between the temperature sensor and the control algorithm. It detects when the temperature remains in the vaporization band for an extended period and signals the controller to freeze precision mode, thereby mediating the control response to prevent overcompensation during moisture vaporization.
2Ease of operation
If traditional closed-loop control algorithms are used to control heating elements, then control simplicity is maintained, but cooking precision deteriorates during vaporization causing overcooking and splattering
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-defining a vaporization band temperature range and implementing a vaporization timer before the actual vaporization event occurs. When the temperature enters this predetermined band, the system proactively prepares to freeze precision mode, preventing the need for complex real-time adjustments during vaporization and maintaining control simplicity while improving cooking precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes its operational parameters by introducing conditional logic that detects vaporization events through temperature band monitoring and timer expiration. This parameter change allows the system to switch from active precision control to frozen control mode, improving cooking precision during vaporization without requiring complex user intervention.
3Productivity
If the heating element operates at high power to compensate for stalled temperature increase, then temperature target is reached faster, but moisture vaporization causes excessive heating and cooking defects
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the temperature sensor to detect when the temperature stalls in the vaporization band. The vaporization timer monitors the duration of this stall, and when it expires, the system provides feedback to freeze precision mode. This feedback mechanism prevents the controller from interpreting the temperature stall as a need for increased power, thereby avoiding excessive heating and its harmful effects while maintaining productive heating during non-vaporization periods.
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 provides more precise temperature control and reduces the risk of overcooking and splattering by moderating heating power during moisture vaporization, ensuring more consistent cooking results.
Implementation Method 1
a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature at a utensil heated by the heating element
Implementation Method 2
heating element positioned at a cooking surface of the cooktop appliance... heating the utensil
Implementation Method 3
the latent heat of vaporization of such moisture content may result in a stalled temperature increase even as the heat increases while the moisture is vaporizing
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a cooktop appliance in a precision mode includes monitoring a temperature with a temperature sensor and starting a vaporization timer when the monitored temperature enters a vaporization band. The method also includes freezing the precision mode when the vaporization timer expires and the monitored temperature is within the vaporization band.