Dielectric Coefficient Monitoring for Microwave Thawing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food thawing methods using electromagnetic waves face challenges in determining the completion of thawing accurately, leading to potential overcooking or uneven thawing due to user-dependent time and temperature settings, and variations in water and ice penetration within food.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a cavity capacitor and electromagnetic wave generation module, where the thawing progress is determined by the weight of the object, power value of the electromagnetic wave signal, and rate of change in the dielectric coefficient, with a controller adjusting the electromagnetic wave generation based on threshold values to prevent over-thawing, and a matching module for optimal load matching to ensure uniform heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electromagnetic wave heating is used to thaw food quickly, then thawing efficiency is improved, but uneven thawing and local overheating occur due to different penetration and absorption of water and ice by microwave
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating between electromagnetic wave heating and pause intervals. The controller controls the electromagnetic wave generation module to work intermittently rather than continuously, allowing heat to distribute more evenly throughout the food during pause periods, thereby preventing local overheating while maintaining overall thawing efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If thawing is determined by user-set time or temperature, then操作简单 is improved, but overcooled or overheated food occurs due to too high requirements for user input
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using a sensor to detect the dielectric coefficient of the food in real-time during the thawing process. The controller continuously monitors this parameter and automatically adjusts the electromagnetic wave heating based on the detected changes, eliminating the need for users to manually set complex parameters while ensuring precise thawing completion detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically detecting thawing completion through dielectric coefficient monitoring. The controller autonomously determines when thawing is complete based on preset thresholds compared against real-time sensor data, without requiring user judgment or manual intervention, thus simplifying operation while maintaining high accuracy.
3Reliability
If the electromagnetic wave generation module works continuously to ensure thorough thawing, then thawing completeness is improved, but energy consumption increases and over-thawing occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The controller uses real-time feedback from the dielectric coefficient sensor to determine when to stop electromagnetic wave heating. When the detected dielectric coefficient change rate falls below a preset threshold, indicating thawing completion, the controller automatically stops the heating process, preventing energy waste from continued heating while ensuring complete thawing was achieved.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using intermittent electromagnetic wave heating rather than continuous heating. The system applies heating in controlled intervals with pauses in between, achieving sufficient thawing through cumulative partial heating actions while significantly reducing total energy consumption compared to continuous heating.
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 approach provides accurate and uniform thawing, reducing nutrient loss and preventing overcooking, especially suitable for temperatures between -4 to -1°C, with improved user experience and cost-effectiveness by eliminating the need for manual weight input or load cells.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic wave generation module that generates an electromagnetic wave signal for heating the object to be treated
Implementation Method 2
a cavity capacitor for placement of an object to be treated, and an electromagnetic wave generation module
Data Source
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AI summary
A thawing method for a heating apparatus, and the heating apparatus. The heating apparatus includes a cavity capacitor used for placement of an object to be treated, and an electromagnetic wave generation module that generates an electromagnetic wave signal used for heating the object to be treated. The thawing method includes: receiving a thawing instruction input by a user, acquiring a feature parameter that reflects the weight of the object to be treated, a power value of the electromagnetic wave signal, and a rate of change in a dielectric coefficient of the object to be treated; and determining the thawing progress of the object to be treated according to the feature parameter, the power value and the rate of change. Compared with determining, according to a sensed temperature of the object to be treated, the thawing progress of the object to be treated, the present invention is less influenced by the precision of a sensing device itself, and achieves relatively accurate determination, thereby facilitating further treatment by the user on the thawed object to be treated.