Gas Oven Valve Control for Divided Cavity Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas ovens with dividers face challenges in adjusting gas supply and temperature control, leading to difficulties in maintaining consistent cooking conditions and safety concerns due to the limited reactivity and safety mechanisms of existing valve systems.
Innovation Solution
A gas oven design incorporating a valve system with solenoid valves and flow rate modulating valves, allowing for adjustable gas supply to multiple burners and independent control of each cooking cavity, with features like adjustable plunger positions and magnetic fields to manage gas flow and prevent explosive ignition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a Bi-metal ON/OFF valve is used, then safety is improved, but reactivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is segmented into multiple independent valves (first ON/OFF valve, second ON/OFF valve, first flow rate modulating valve, second flow rate modulating valve) distributed across different passages (common passage, first passage, second passage). This segmentation allows each valve to perform its function independently, enabling the solenoid valves to provide immediate reactivity while the overall system maintains safety through multiple control points.
Solution Approach 2:
The valve system transitions from static ON/OFF control to dynamic flow rate modulation. The flow rate modulating valves can adjust their opening degrees continuously, providing real-time dynamic control of gas flow. This dynamic capability enables rapid response to cooking conditions while maintaining safety through proportional control rather than abrupt on/off changes.
2Speed
If a solenoid ON/OFF valve is used, then reactivity is improved, but safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The gas supply system is divided into multiple passages (common passage, first passage, second passage) with independent valves at each location. This segmentation distributes the control function across multiple solenoid valves, allowing rapid response while reducing safety risks through redundancy and distributed control rather than relying on a single valve.
Solution Approach 2:
Different valves are positioned at different locations with specific functions: ON/OFF valves at the common passage for main supply control, and flow rate modulating valves at the first and second passages for localized flow adjustment. This local quality assignment ensures that each solenoid valve operates optimally for its specific location while collectively providing both safety and reactivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a divider is mounted to change cooking capacity, then cooking area is changed, but gas supply control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system provides dynamic flow rate modulation capability that automatically adapts to different cooking configurations. When the divider is mounted, the flow rate modulating valves can adjust their opening degrees to provide appropriate gas supply to each burner, enabling easy adaptation to changed cooking areas without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature sensors in the cooking cavities that provide feedback to the control unit. The control unit uses this temperature feedback to automatically adjust the valve opening degrees, ensuring proper gas supply control adapts automatically when the divider is mounted or removed, eliminating the need for manual adjustment.
4Productivity
If gas supply is increased for larger cooking area, then cooking capacity is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The flow rate modulating valves provide continuous dynamic adjustment of gas flow rates, allowing precise control of the fuel-air mixture. This dynamic control enables the system to maintain optimal combustion conditions and temperature control precision regardless of the cooking capacity or divider configuration, as the valve opening degrees can be finely tuned to match the required heat input.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of valve opening degree to control gas flow rate proportionally. By adjusting the opening degree of the flow rate modulating valves, the system can precisely control the amount of gas supplied to match the cooking requirements, maintaining temperature control precision while adapting to different cooking capacities.
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
The solution enables precise control of gas supply and temperature, reducing the risk of undercooking or overcooking and enhancing safety by allowing for real-time adjustments based on cooking mode and temperature, thereby minimizing temperature fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
The solenoid ON/OFF valve may be immediately open and/or shut off depending on whether a current is applied thereto
Implementation Method 2
a burner configured to generate heat by combusting gas and air
Data Source
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AI summary
A gas oven having a gas supplying passage to supply gas to a burner is provided. The gas oven includes an ON/OFF valve to open/close the gas supplying passage, and a flow rate modulating valve connected to the ON/OFF valve in series so as to change the cross-sectional area of a passage, thereby supplying a proper amount of gas to a cooking cavity in response to the change of a cooking area. When a cooking cavity is divided into individual cooking cavities while a divider is mounted, the flow rate modulating valve is open/closed at a smaller opening degree than the maximum operating degree, and thus may be able to prevent a cooking substance from being carbonized in the individual cooking cavities.