Device and method for preparing foods held in a vessel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food preparation devices are inefficient in using energy for both cooking and cleaning, often requiring energy-intensive heating of rinsing mediums like steam and hot water, which wastes resources and energy.
Innovation Solution
A device that utilizes residual heat from the steam generator to produce steam and then mixes it with a colder fluid to create condensate for cleaning, allowing for a resource-efficient and improved cleaning effect by reusing energy invested in heating the food.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If energy-intensive heating of rinsing medium (steam or hot water) is used for cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention recovers residual heat from the steam generator after food preparation and reuses it to generate steam for the rinsing process. Instead of discarding the thermal energy after cooking, the system captures and redirects this residual heat to produce cleaning steam, thereby reducing the need for additional energy-intensive heating during the rinsing cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The steam generator operates continuously without interruption between the preparation phase and the rinsing phase. The system maintains thermal energy availability by immediately transitioning from food preparation to rinsing operations using the same heat source, eliminating idle time and ensuring continuous productive use of the heating element.
2Reliability
If separate heating of rinsing medium is implemented, then cleaning function is improved, but resource efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The steam generator serves multiple functions: it generates steam for both food preparation and subsequent rinsing operations. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate heating systems for different operational phases, reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining effective cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the preparation and rinsing operations into a unified process flow where the steam generator handles both functions sequentially. By combining these operations and using the same thermal resource for both, the system achieves resource efficiency while ensuring proper cleaning function.
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 device achieves a significant reduction in energy usage by utilizing residual heat for steam generation during the rinsing process, producing a condensate that provides a superior cleaning effect while minimizing resource consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a steam generator assembly for generating steam
Implementation Method 2
a cold fluid, such as water, can be injected into a steam, for example, which leads to a condensation reaction or to an at least partial transition of the steam from the gaseous state into the liquid state
Data Source
AI summary
A device (2) for preparing foods held in a vessel includes a preparation chamber (4) for holding the vessel, a steam-generating assembly (10), including at least one first steam-conducting path (18) and at least one cold-fluid-conducting path (54), a steam supply unit (62) having at least one steam dispensing opening into the preparation chamber (4), which steam supply unit is connected to the at least one steam-conducting path (18) for steam conduction, and a condensate supply unit (60) having at least one condensate dispensing opening into the preparation chamber (4), which condensate supply unit is connected to the steam-conducting path (18) and to the cold-fluid-conducting path (54). The device (2) can carry out preparation in which food held in the vessel can be prepared by the steam supply unit (62), and to carry out a rinsing operation, in which the preparation chamber (4) can be cleaned by the condensate supply unit (60).