Hybrid Gas-Electric Oven Heating Under Voltage Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Oven appliances face challenges with electric heating elements requiring high voltage and gas heating elements providing uneven heating, leading to inefficient and prolonged cooking times, especially when voltage input is limited.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that combines an electric heating element and a gas heating element in an oven appliance, where a controller determines temperature set points, electric heating temperature ranges, and gas undershoot limits to efficiently maintain chamber temperature by cycling the heating elements, activating the gas heat source when necessary to prevent temperature drops below a predetermined limit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If an electric heating element is used, then heating power is sufficient for heavy loads, but large voltage input is required which may not be available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a gas heating element and an electric heating element in the same oven chamber. The gas heating element provides supplemental heating power that reduces the voltage burden on the electric heating element, enabling heavy load heating with limited voltage input while maintaining sufficient total heating power.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a gas heating element is used, then voltage input requirements are reduced, but uneven heating and longer cooking times occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a gas heating element and an electric heating element in the same oven chamber. The electric heating element provides rapid, even heating to reduce cooking time, while the gas heating element supplements to reduce voltage requirements, achieving both goals simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the gas heating element and electric heating element at different locations within the oven chamber to create complementary heating zones. The electric element provides focused, rapid heating where needed, while the gas element provides broader, supplemental heating to ensure even temperature distribution throughout the chamber.
3Manufacturing precision
If only an electric heating element is used, then even heating is achieved, but cooking time is prolonged when voltage input is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a gas heating element and an electric heating element in the same oven chamber. The electric heating element maintains heating uniformity through its rapid response and even heat distribution, while the gas heating element provides supplemental power to maintain cooking speed even when voltage input is limited.
4Use of energy by moving object
If only a gas heating element is used, then voltage input requirements are reduced, but heating uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines a gas heating element and an electric heating element in the same oven chamber. The electric heating element compensates for the gas element's uneven heating by providing rapid, uniform heat distribution, while the gas element reduces the overall voltage input requirements of the system.
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 enables fast, thorough, and even cooking by leveraging both heating sources to maintain optimal temperature, addressing the inefficiencies of single heating element systems and voltage limitations.
Implementation Method 1
In the case of an electric heating element, a voltage is supplied to the electric heating element which then emits heat to the cooking chamber
Implementation Method 2
In the case of a gas heating element, a gas fuel is supplied to a burner in or near the cooking chamber, which is then ignited and burned to provide heat to the cooking chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating an oven appliance includes obtaining a temperature set point, determining, based on the temperature set point, an electric heating temperature range and a gas undershoot temperature limit, the gas undershoot limit being below the electric heating temperature range, determining that a chamber temperature of the oven appliance has dropped to the gas undershoot temperature limit, and operating a gas heat source to maintain the chamber temperature above the gas undershoot temperature limit.