Home Appliance Heater Control for Flicker-Free AC Power Cycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Temperature-regulated home appliances experience periodic large power variance, causing light flickering and circuit breaker trips due to periodic current draw on AC input, particularly in older homes with less ideal electrical wiring.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with a first and second heating element, controlled by a processor to generate a random distribution of AC power percentage among cycles, using a temperature sensor to adjust heat output to reach a reference temperature, thereby reducing periodic current draw.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If heating elements are turned on and off to control temperature, then temperature regulation is achieved, but periodic current draw causes light flickering and circuit breaker trips
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by using pulse width modulation (PWM) to cycle the heating elements on and off at a frequency high enough to prevent visible light flickering (above 100Hz). This periodic switching allows temperature control while avoiding the harmful low-frequency flicker that causes electrical instability and circuit breaker trips.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by using a microprocessor to dynamically adjust the duty cycle of the heating elements based on real-time temperature feedback from sensors. This dynamic control allows the system to respond to changing thermal conditions while maintaining stable power consumption patterns that prevent electrical grid instability.
2Power
If high power is delivered to heating elements, then effective heat output is achieved, but large power variance causes appliance power fluctuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic PWM switching to deliver high power to heating elements when needed while averaging the power consumption over time. By rapidly switching the elements on and off at controlled duty cycles, the system achieves effective heat output when the elements are active while preventing sustained large power variance that would cause appliance power fluctuation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by using temperature sensors to continuously monitor the thermal state and adjusting the power delivery to heating elements accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures high heat output when temperature targets are not met while reducing power when the target is approached, thereby stabilizing overall power consumption and preventing appliance power fluctuation.
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 system effectively regulates temperature while avoiding light flickering and circuit breaker trips by distributing AC power randomly, ensuring stable heat output without bulky filtering components.
Implementation Method 1
a first heating element and a second heating element, the first and second heating elements being configured to generate heat to be output in response to being powered with alternating current (AC) power
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the generated heat
Data Source
AI summary
Various exemplary devices, systems, and methods for power distribution for temperature regulation of home appliances are provided. In general, in some implementations an apparatus includes a first heating element and a second heating element configured to generate heat to be output in response to being powered with alternating current (AC) power. The apparatus includes a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the generated heat and a processor configured to, based on the temperature, generate a set of cycles with a random distribution of a total AC power percentage among the cycles. An AC power percentage of each of the cycles is within a set of AC power percentage values, to control the first heating element and the second heating element such that the total AC power percentage leads to a temperature adjustment to reach a reference temperature.