Food Dehydrator Air Circulation and Heating Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional food dehydrators suffer from uneven drying due to air circulation patterns, leading to increased power consumption and potential fire hazards, especially when drying meat, and irregular drying temperatures caused by exposed coil heat wires.
Innovation Solution
A food dehydrator design that introduces air from the rear and recirculates wet steam within the system, using a stainless steel inner plate for even light distribution, and strategically positioned air outlets and inlets to enhance drying efficiency and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If air inlet holes and air outlet holes are formed on the lower end and top cover respectively to provide natural convection air circulation, then the air circulation system is established, but the drying quality becomes uneven across different positions of dry stands and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air outlet holes are divided into two groups: first air outlet holes at the upper portion of side surfaces and second air outlet holes at the lower portion of side surfaces. This segmentation allows differentiated air discharge paths - warm humid air is discharged laterally while preventing direct discharge of the hottest air near the heat source, thereby improving drying uniformity across all dry stands
Solution Approach 2:
The air circulation path is changed from vertical discharge (top to bottom) to lateral discharge (side surfaces). By discharging air through side surfaces at different heights rather than vertically from top to bottom, the system creates a more uniform temperature distribution across all dry stands, eliminating the position-dependent drying quality issue
2Ease of operation
If the heat source and fan are disposed on the lower portion of the food dehydrator body, then the air heating and circulation function is achieved, but water drops from food pollute the motor and heat wires and fire danger exists
Solution Approach 1:
The inner casing is introduced as an intermediary structure between the heat source/fan and the external environment. It provides a protective barrier that prevents water and lipid droplets from reaching the motor and heat wires while allowing air circulation to continue through designated openings in the inner casing
Solution Approach 2:
The motor is extracted from the lower portion and relocated to the upper portion of the dehydrator body. This spatial separation removes the vulnerable motor component from the zone where water and lipid droplets accumulate, eliminating the fire hazard while maintaining heating and circulation functions
3Ease of operation
If coil type heat wires are exposed directly to the food to be dried, then the heating function is achieved, but irregular drying occurs and maintaining constant drying temperature becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The inner casing acts as an intermediary between the heat wires and the food. It distributes heat more uniformly across the drying chamber and prevents direct exposure of food to localized high-temperature zones around the coil heat wires, thereby maintaining more constant drying temperatures and improving drying uniformity
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 design ensures consistent drying quality across all food positions, reduces power consumption by reusing heat, and minimizes the risk of fire hazards through improved air circulation and even temperature maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
a fan so as to move air introduced from the rear surface in this manner forwardly
Implementation Method 2
a heating member so as to heat the air supplied to the dry room
Implementation Method 3
evaporating water from food
Implementation Method 4
an inner plate made of stainless steel is disposed on the inner side of a front door so as to evenly provide the wavelength of light for the whole food by using the scattered reflection of light generated from a heating member
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a food dehydrator including: a body having a front door detachably mounted on the front surface thereof, a plurality of air inlet holes formed on the rear surface thereof and a plurality of body air discharge holes formed on the side surfaces thereof; an inner casing having a dry room formed at the internal space thereof, a plurality of inner casing air inlet holes formed on the rear surface thereof, a plurality of first air outlet holes and second air outlet holes formed on the side surfaces thereof; a fan adapted to supply the external air to the dry room; and a heating member disposed behind the fan along an air flowing path so as to heat the air supplied to the dry room.