Dual Gas Burner Modulation for Stable Oven Temperature

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Solution Overview

Problem

Gas cooking appliances face challenges in regulating oven temperature over a wide range, as existing systems experience large temperature swings due to the need for high power for preheating and self-clean cycles, while also requiring reduced power for maintaining set temperatures, leading to inefficient temperature control.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of multiple gas burners with electromechanical modulating valves and a controller that varies the output levels of these burners to maintain a constant combined output, allowing for precise temperature control and disruption of airflow patterns to achieve uniform heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a high power gas burner is used for preheating and self-clean cycles, then the appliance can reach required temperatures quickly, but large temperature swings occur when maintaining set temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepreheat speedVSAvoidtemperature stability

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The single gas burner is divided into multiple separate burners (first gas burner and second gas burner), each capable of independent modulation. This segmentation allows the system to use one burner at high power for rapid preheating while using the other burner at lower power for stable temperature maintenance, thereby resolving the contradiction between preheat speed and temperature stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by moving object

If the gas burner output is reduced to maintain set temperature, then energy consumption decreases, but temperature control precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidtemperature control precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic modulation of individual burner outputs through electromechanical modulating valves, allowing continuous adjustment of each burner's contribution. This dynamic control enables precise temperature maintenance by balancing the combined output of multiple burners, achieving both energy efficiency and temperature control precision simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Power

If a single gas burner operates at full power, then heating capability is maximized, but temperature uniformity in the oven deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating powerVSAvoidtemperature uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Different burners are positioned at different locations within the oven to provide localized heating zones. By modulating the output of each burner independently, the system creates overlapping heat zones that combine to provide uniform temperature distribution throughout the oven, while maintaining the ability to deliver high total heating power when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 enables more precise and stable temperature regulation within the oven, reducing temperature fluctuations and promoting even cooking by modulating the output of the gas burners and adjusting airflow patterns, thus addressing the need for efficient temperature control across a wide range.

Implementation Method 1

first and second electromechanical modulating valves that respectively couple the first and second gas burners to a gas supply

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectValve control: Valve

Implementation Method 2

first and second gas burners positioned to supply heat to the oven compartment

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Implementation Method 3

controller is further configured to, when maintaining a predetermined temperature in the oven compartment, control the electromechanical modulating valves to vary respective output levels of the first and second gas burners while maintaining a substantially constant combined output level

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal control:

Implementation Method 4

disruption of airflow patterns in the oven compartment... promoting even cooking by modulating the output of the gas burners and adjusting airflow patterns

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11754291B2Modulating oven burner control for gas cooking appliance

Publication Date: 2023.09.12 MIDEA GROUP CO LTD

AI summary

A cooking appliance including an oven compartment, and first and second gas burners positioned to supply heat to the oven compartment. The first and second gas burners respectively include first and second electromechanical modulating valves that respectively couple the first and second gas burners to a gas supply. A controller is used to control the first and second gas burners to heat the oven compartment, and the controller, when maintaining a predetermined temperature in the oven compartment, controls the electromechanical modulating valves of the first and second gas burners to vary respective output levels of the first and second gas burners while maintaining a substantially constant combined output level for the first and second gas burners.