Dual-Zone Griddle Heating for High Power Density Browning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Indoor electric griddles and grills face a trade-off between cooking area and power density due to limited residential power availability, which is insufficient for achieving browning and crispy textures for foods like hash browns, French toast, bacon, and steaks.
Innovation Solution
An electric cooking device with a dual heating element system that allows selective connection to a power source, enabling either a full cooking surface to be heated at a lower power density or a portion to be heated at a higher power density, optimizing heat distribution for various cooking needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the cooking surface area is increased to provide sufficient cooking space, then the cooking area is improved, but the power density decreases making it insufficient for browning and crispy textures
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independent heating zones (first heating element and second heating element) that can be selectively activated. This segmentation allows different portions of the cooking surface to receive different power densities independently, resolving the contradiction between total cooking area and localized power density for browning.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cooking surface are provided with different heating characteristics - the first heating element provides lower power density for general cooking across the entire surface, while the second heating element provides higher power density for specific portions requiring browning and crispy textures. This local quality differentiation allows both large cooking area and high power density to coexist in different zones.
2Power
If the power density is increased to achieve browning and crispy textures, then the cooking performance for browning is improved, but the cooking surface area must be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independent heating zones (first heating element and second heating element) that can be selectively activated. This segmentation allows different portions of the cooking surface to receive different power densities independently, resolving the contradiction between total cooking area and localized power density for browning.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the cooking surface are provided with different heating characteristics - the first heating element provides lower power density for general cooking across the entire surface, while the second heating element provides higher power density for specific portions requiring browning and crispy textures. This local quality differentiation allows both large cooking area and high power density to coexist in different zones.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a single heating element is used to heat the entire cooking surface, then the heat distribution is uniform, but the power density is insufficient for foods requiring browning
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is divided into multiple independent heating zones (first heating element and second heating element) that can be selectively activated. This segmentation allows different portions of the cooking surface to receive different power densities independently, resolving the contradiction between total cooking area and localized power density for browning.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating system transitions from a static single heating element to a dynamic multi-zone system where different heating elements can be selectively activated based on cooking requirements. The selector enables dynamic switching between heating configurations, allowing the system to adapt power distribution to specific cooking needs while maintaining the ability to provide uniform heat when required.
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 allows for high power density on a large cooking surface, enabling faster and more consistent cooking of foods that require browning and crispy textures, while maintaining warmth on non-heated areas, thus improving cooking efficiency and time.
Implementation Method 1
a first heating element arranged for heating the cooking surface
Implementation Method 2
a second heating element arranged for heating a portion of the cooking surface
Data Source
AI summary
An electric cooking device with a cooking surface. The cooking surface includes a first heating element positioned under the cooking surface arranged to heat substantially the entire cooking surface to a first power density and a second heating element positioned under a portion the cooking surface arranged to heat approximately half of the cooking surface to a second power density. The second power density can be greater that the first power density. The electric cooking device can include a temperature regulator and a selector connected to the first heating element and the second heating element arranged to selectively connect the first heating element or the second heating element through the temperature regulator to a power source.