Induction Cooker Segmented Coil Control for Variable Load Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional induction heating cookers face inefficiencies in heating diverse-sized objects due to uneven magnetic flux distribution and the need for rigid coil configurations, limiting flexibility and heating performance.
Innovation Solution
An induction heating cooker with a top plate and multiple heating coils, controlled by an inverter and data memory, allows for adjustable heatable regions through stored patterns, enabling dynamic selection and control of heating areas based on object size and location, optimizing energy distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single heating coil is used, then the device structure is simple, but the heating efficiency decreases when objects of different sizes are heated due to leakage magnetic flux and non-uniform heat distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The heating coil is divided into multiple independent sections that can be selectively activated. Each section can be independently controlled to match the size and position of the heating object, reducing leakage magnetic flux and improving heating efficiency without increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating coil configuration is made dynamic through selective activation of different sections based on the size and position of the heating object. This allows the system to adapt its effective heating area in real-time, optimizing heating efficiency for various object sizes while maintaining a simple fixed physical structure.
2Area of stationary object
If the heating coil size is increased to accommodate larger objects, then the heating area is expanded, but the heating efficiency decreases for smaller objects due to excessive coil area and magnetic flux leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The heating coil is segmented into multiple sections that can be independently controlled. This allows the effective heating area to be adjusted by activating only the necessary sections, matching the heating area to the object size and preventing energy loss from excessive coil activation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the heating coil can be activated based on the local heating requirements. This ensures that heating energy is concentrated where needed rather than distributed across the entire coil area, improving efficiency for both small and large objects.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple heating coils are installed to heat objects of different sizes, then the heating versatility is improved, but the device complexity and installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of installing multiple complete heating coils, the system segments a single coil into multiple independently controllable sections. This achieves the versatility of multiple coils while maintaining the simplicity of a single coil installation, reducing both device complexity and installation space requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
A single heating coil is designed to perform multiple functions by selectively activating different sections. This universal coil can accommodate various object sizes and positions, replacing the need for multiple specialized coils while maintaining heating versatility.
4Device complexity
If a conventional fixed heating coil is used, then the device structure is simple, but the cooking performance degrades when objects are placed at different positions due to non-uniform heat distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The heating coil control system is made dynamic, allowing selective activation of different sections based on the position and size of the heating object. This ensures uniform heat distribution across the object regardless of its position on the heating surface, improving cooking performance without complex mechanical adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates detection means to identify the position and size of the heating object, and uses this information to selectively activate appropriate coil sections. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal heat distribution and cooking performance while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
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 enhances heating efficiency by allowing for precise adjustment of heatable regions, accommodating various object sizes and locations, thereby improving cooking performance and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a heating coil having a spiral shape for heating an object
Implementation Method 2
an induction heating cooker including a heating coil which can be energized partly
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An induction heating cooker includes a top plate adapted to have an object placed thereon, plural heating coils provided below a lower surface of the top plate, an inverter for supplying high-frequency power to the heating coils, a data memory, and a controller controlling the inverter. The data memory stores first and second heating coil patterns. Each of the first and second heating coil patterns defines one or more heatable regions and one or more non-heatable regions. The controller selects a heating coil pattern from the first and second coil patterns. The controller controls the inverter such that high-frequency power can be supplied to one or more first heating coils out of the plural heating coils located in the one or more heatable regions of the selected heating coil pattern. The controller controls the inverter such that high-frequency power cannot be supplied to one or more second heating coils out of the plural heating coils located in the one or more non-heatable regions of the selected heating coil pattern. This induction heating cooker can adjust at least one of the location, the size, and the number of the heatable regions for induction-heating objects in response to at least one of the location, the size, and the number of the objects to be heated, thereby heating the objects efficiently.