Method for controlling cleaning cooking appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances face challenges in efficiently removing organic matter from their surfaces during the self-clean mode, particularly in terms of lowering the oxidation temperature and increasing the thermal decomposition amount of organic matter.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling the cleaning of a cooking appliance that involves selecting a self-clean mode, increasing the cavity temperature to a set second temperature, and maintaining that temperature, while controlling the temperature increase rate by alternately operating a broil heater and a bake heater.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cavity temperature is increased rapidly to remove organic matter, then the cleaning efficiency is improved, but the oxidation temperature of organic matter increases making decomposition harder
Solution Approach 1:
The heating operation is divided into periodic cycles with multiple temperature increase stages. The controller alternates between increasing temperature and maintaining temperature, creating periodic heating patterns that allow organic matter to decompose at controlled oxidation temperatures while still achieving effective cleaning over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature increase process is segmented into multiple stages (first temperature increase stage, second temperature increase stage, etc.) with different temperature increase rates. Each stage targets different decomposition requirements of organic matter, allowing gradual breakdown without excessive temperature spikes that would raise oxidation temperature.
2Loss of time
If the temperature increase rate is high, then the cleaning process time is reduced, but the thermal decomposition amount of organic matter decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature increase rate is made dynamic rather than constant. The controller adjusts the temperature increase rate based on the current stage of the cleaning process, using higher rates initially and lower rates later to maximize decomposition while managing total process time.
Solution Approach 2:
The first temperature increase stage prepares the environment by rapidly heating to an intermediate temperature, creating conditions favorable for subsequent decomposition stages. This preliminary heating action sets the stage for more effective thermal decomposition in later stages without requiring the entire process to be rapid.
3Device complexity
If a single heating element is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature distribution uniformity in the cavity is poor
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple heating elements (broil heater and bake heater) are combined to work together in a coordinated manner. The controller manages both heaters simultaneously, merging their heating effects to achieve uniform temperature distribution throughout the cavity, which is essential for consistent organic matter decomposition.
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 method effectively lowers the oxidation temperature of organic matter and increases its thermal decomposition amount, thereby enhancing the removal efficiency of organic matter during the self-clean process.
Implementation Method 1
each heating device may heat air and the food in the cavity via conduction, convection, or radiation
Implementation Method 2
each heating device may heat air and the food in the cavity via conduction, convection, or radiation
Implementation Method 3
The self-clean mode involves operating the heating device equipped in the cooking appliance to heat the cavity at the high temperature to thermally decompose and remove the organic matter attached to the surface of the panel
Implementation Method 4
The organic matter may react with oxygen in air at the high temperature and be oxidized, and thus be separated and removed from the panel
Implementation Method 5
The increasing the temperature may further include controlling a temperature increase rate inside the cavity in the increasing the temperature by operating a broil heater and a bake heater alternately
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling cleaning of a cooking appliance is discussed. The cooking appliance may include a cavity configured to accommodate food to be cooked, the cavity including a panel, a broil heater configured to apply radiant heat to the cavity, and a bake heater configured to heat the panel. Additionally, the method may include selecting a mode including selecting a self-clean mode of the cavity, increasing an internal temperature of the cavity to a set second temperature, and maintaining the internal temperature of the cavity at the second temperature. Further, the increasing the internal temperature may include controlling a temperature increase rate inside the cavity in the increasing the internal temperature by operating the broil heater and the bake heater alternately.