Internal Chimney Smoke Circulation for Grill Heat Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Grilling and smoking devices often inefficiently release heat and smoke before they can infuse flavor into food, with heated smoke rising to the top and being released prematurely, while cooler smoke settles at the bottom, and heat is released before it can be used effectively for cooking.
Innovation Solution
A smoke circulation device with a smoke retaining element and chimney member that directs smoke vertically upward within the grilling compartment, enhancing circulation and retention of heat and smoke to improve flavor infusion and cooking efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If smoke is allowed to rise naturally to the top of the grilling compartment, then smoke circulation occurs, but heated smoke is released prematurely through the exhaust before infusing flavor into the food
Solution Approach 1:
The smoke circulation system divides the smoke flow path into distinct segments: a smoke retention zone that captures heated smoke, a circulation path that directs smoke across the food, and an exhaust path that removes cooler smoke. This segmentation prevents premature heat loss while maintaining cooking efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by capturing and retaining heated smoke in the smoke retention zone before it reaches the exhaust. This preliminary retention ensures that smoke remains hot and flavorful, ready to infuse the food effectively when circulated
2Temperature
If heated smoke rises to the top of the grilling compartment, then natural convection occurs, but the smoke is released before it can infuse flavor into the food product
Solution Approach 1:
The smoke circulation system introduces an intermediary structure (smoke retention zone and circulation channels) between the heat source and the exhaust. This intermediary captures heated smoke, maintains its temperature, and directs it across the food surface, preventing direct loss of hot smoke to the exhaust while reducing cooler smoke loss
3Object-generated harmful factors
If heat is released through the exhaust, then smoke removal occurs, but heat is released before it can be used effectively for cooking
Solution Approach 1:
The smoke circulation system applies local quality by creating different functional zones within the grilling compartment: a hot smoke retention zone near the heat source, a circulation zone over the food, and a cooler exhaust zone. This localized differentiation ensures heat is utilized effectively for cooking in the retention and circulation zones while smoke removal occurs in the exhaust zone
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 smoke circulation system ensures that heated smoke and air are retained and circulated within the grilling compartment, allowing for more efficient cooking and flavor distribution, while cooler smoke is exhausted, improving the overall performance of the grilling device.
Implementation Method 1
a chimney member adapted for directing smoke in a vertically upward direction
Implementation Method 2
smoke circulation system ensures that heated smoke and air are retained and circulated within the grilling compartment
Data Source
AI summary
A smoke circulating element includes a smoke retaining element and a smoke circulation opening adapted for directing smoke out of the smoke retaining element. The smoke retaining element has a plurality of panels at least partially bounding a smoke chamber. The smoke circulating element is contoured to fit the inner surface of a grilling device so that the inner surface and smoke circulating element cooperate to substantially enclose the smoke chamber. Smoke produced within the smoke chamber by a wood pellet fire pot escapes the smoke chamber through the upper disposed smoke circulation opening and is exhausted from the grilling device as it cools, settles, and escapes through a lower disposed exhaust opening.