Electric stove
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric heating devices for baths and saunas face challenges in maintaining consistent steam generation and room temperature due to discrete behavior in steam generation, leading to reduced steam quality or room temperature.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates a frame structure with a metal housing containing an enclosed rock compartment with heat-retaining natural or artificial elements and a convector heater, which allows independent high-temperature heating of the rock compartment while maintaining a constant air temperature in the steam room, enabling efficient fine-dispersed steam generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the enclosed rock compartment volume is small, then the heating speed of heat-retaining elements is fast, but the steam generation capability is insufficient and room temperature drops
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the rock compartment into two distinct sections: an enclosed rock compartment for rapid heating and a separate open rock compartment for steam generation. This segmentation allows each section to perform its specialized function optimally without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between fast heating and sufficient steam production
Solution Approach 2:
A convector is introduced as an intermediary component between the heat-retaining elements and the steam room air. The convector efficiently transfers heat from the heated rocks to the surrounding air, maintaining room temperature stability while enabling continuous steam generation without direct temperature coupling
2Quantity of substance
If steam generation is intensified to compensate for temperature drop, then steam volume increases, but the room temperature continues to decrease and steam quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The convector acts as a thermal buffer and intermediary heat transfer device. It absorbs heat from the hot rocks and gradually releases it to the steam room air, decoupling the steam generation process from direct room temperature control. This allows intensive steam generation without proportional temperature loss
Solution Approach 2:
The open rock compartment provides continuous steam generation capability, while the convector maintains continuous heat transfer to the room air. This continuous action prevents the discrete temperature fluctuations and steam quality deterioration that occur in intermittent heating systems
3Measurement precision
If additional components (fan, damper, float valve) are added to improve temperature and steam control, then control precision improves, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system utilizes natural convection currents and passive heat transfer from the heated rocks to maintain temperature control. The convector design allows hot air to rise and circulate naturally without requiring active fan assistance, eliminating multiple moving parts while maintaining effective control
Solution Approach 2:
The invention removes complex control components (fans, dampers, float valves) from the system while retaining effective temperature and steam control through the simplified convector design. This extraction of unnecessary complexity reduces maintenance requirements while preserving the essential control functions
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 configuration provides stable high-temperature conditions for heat-retaining elements, maintains a constant required air temperature in the steam room, and ensures optimal steam generation conditions, resulting in high-quality steam that allows for comfortable breathing in the steam room.
Implementation Method 1
unit of tubular heating elements (THEs)... heating elements of 1 kW and 2 kW... electric heaters are made in the form of a heat conducting flask, in which a tubular electric heater is fixed
Implementation Method 2
Sledged rock (gabbro-diabase, soapstone or quartzite) is put inside the electric heating device. Heat storage capacity of electric heating devices is provided by availability of closed and open rock compartments in them
Implementation Method 3
convector heater located underneath... maintaining by the convector of the device a constant required air temperature in the steam room
Data Source
AI summary
An electric stove including a housing having a cover and containing electric heating coils in a convection heater, a rock module with heat-retaining elements, and a convection duct. The convection heater is disposed beneath an enclosed rock compartment, the front wall of the convection heater has convection openings, and the rear part of the convection heater extends into an opening in a rear panel of the convection duct casing. Connected to an opening in the bottom of a pan of an external rock compartment is a connecting pipe, and disposed inside the enclosed rock compartment is a structure consisting of profiled pipes with a series of openings.