Gas Cooker Burner Control for Vessel-Matched Flame Diameter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronically controlled gas cooking appliances do not operate their burners at optimal efficiency, leading to suboptimal energy use and uneven heating due to mismatched hotplate and cooking vessel flame diameters.
Innovation Solution
A method to determine the suitability of a hotplate for a cooking vessel by calculating the cooking vessel's target flame circle diameter and comparing it to the hotplate's tolerance range, allowing for optimal heat input and energy efficiency by recommending the most suitable hotplate for the vessel based on these parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the burner operates with a fixed flame circle diameter, then the device structure is simple, but the energy efficiency is reduced due to mismatch with cooking vessel sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the flame circle diameter adjustable rather than fixed. The control unit dynamically adjusts the flame circle diameter based on the detected cooking vessel size, allowing the burner to adapt its operating parameters to match different cookware dimensions. This resolves the contradiction by enabling energy efficiency improvement through parameter adjustment while maintaining relatively simple device structure through electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the flame circle diameter parameter according to the cooking vessel size. The system detects the vessel diameter and相应地 adjusts the burner's flame output parameters to achieve optimal heat transfer. This allows energy efficiency to be improved through parameter optimization without requiring complex mechanical modifications to the burner structure.
2Area of stationary object
If the flame circle diameter is increased to cover larger cooking vessels, then the heating coverage is improved, but the energy efficiency decreases due to excessive gas consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes to adjust the flame circle diameter to match the cooking vessel size. When a large vessel is detected, the system increases the flame circle diameter parameter to provide adequate heating coverage. When a small vessel is detected, it reduces the parameter to avoid excessive gas consumption. This dynamic parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction between heating coverage and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by detecting the cooking vessel size and using this information to adjust the flame circle diameter. The control unit receives feedback about the vessel dimensions and相应地 modifies the burner operation parameters. This closed-loop control ensures that the heating coverage matches the vessel size without wasting energy on excessive flame diameter.
3Loss of energy
If the flame circle diameter is decreased to reduce gas consumption, then the energy efficiency is improved, but the heating coverage becomes insufficient for larger cooking vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the flame circle diameter to change dynamically based on the cooking vessel size detection. The system can decrease the diameter for small vessels to improve energy efficiency and increase it for large vessels to ensure adequate heating coverage. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by making the flame size responsive to actual heating needs rather than fixed.
4Productivity
If automatic vessel detection and hotplate suitability determination is implemented, then the cooking performance is optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the cooking appliance to automatically detect the cooking vessel size and determine hotplate suitability without user intervention. The control unit autonomously processes the detected vessel diameter, compares it with the hotplate's target flame circle diameter and tolerance range, and provides suitability determination. This automated self-service approach optimizes cooking performance while keeping the device complexity manageable through integrated electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical assessment with electronic detection and control systems. Instead of requiring users to manually match vessel sizes with hotplates, the system uses electronic sensors and control units to detect vessel dimensions and determine compatibility. This substitution of mechanical/manual processes with electronic systems optimizes cooking performance while the complexity is contained within the electronic control domain.
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 method ensures that the cooking vessel is placed on a hotplate with a flame diameter that provides both efficient burner operation and optimal heat distribution, enhancing energy efficiency and cooking performance.
Implementation Method 1
a burner flame circle diameter at which a very good or optimum heat input into the cooking vessel or the food to be cooked is achieved
Implementation Method 2
hot air sweeping upwards along the edge of the cooking vessel
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a
AI summary
An electronically controlled gas cooking appliance (100) has four cooking zones (112 to 115), each with its own burner (117 to 120, 218) and an electronically controlled gas valve (104). To operate the gas cooking appliance (100), a check is performed on all cooking zones (112 to 115). Next, it is checked whether a first cooking zone (KS1, 113) is suitable for a cooking vessel (KG, 116) placed on it. Then, the cooking zone (KSopt) best suited for this cooking vessel is determined and communicated to the user. The actual burner output (Plst) is determined from the selected cooking level, and parameters for intermittent operation are determined based on a nominal burner output (PNenn). Finally, the burner is switched from continuous operation to intermittent operation.The gas cooking appliance (100) is designed to carry out the aforementioned procedure and can be operated simultaneously in a power control mode and in a cooking vessel-cooking point assignment mode.