Multizone oven with variable volume steam-assisted cooking zones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-zone ovens face challenges in handling and containing fugitive moisture between cavities due to abrupt pressure differences generated by steam introduction, requiring effective condensation handling and versatile cooking environments for various dishes.
Innovation Solution
A multi-zone oven with removable humidity walls that contain high-pressure steam and provide drainage paths for condensation, along with independent temperature and humidity control in each cavity, using a steam generator system and fans for isolated air circulation, and a controller to coordinate heating, steam, and thermal sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If steam is introduced into a closed cavity to provide steam-cooking or combi-cooking, then the cooking efficiency and humidity control are improved, but abrupt pressure differences are generated causing fugitive moisture to pass between cavities
Solution Approach 1:
The oven interior is divided into multiple sealed cooking cavities with independent humidity control. Each cavity has its own steam generator and humidity blocking barriers, allowing steam to be introduced into specific cavities without causing pressure differences that would move moisture between cavities. This segmentation isolates the harmful effect to the specific cavity where steam is introduced.
Solution Approach 2:
Humidity blocking barriers with drainage paths are introduced as intermediary structures between cavities. These barriers selectively block fugitive moisture while allowing controlled drainage of condensation through drainage tubes, preventing uncontrolled moisture migration between cavities while maintaining pressure differences needed for steam cooking.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If humidity blocking barriers are added to contain steam and provide drainage paths, then moisture containment between cavities is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The humidity blocking barriers serve multiple functions simultaneously: they block fugitive moisture between cavities, provide drainage paths for condensation, support drainage tubes, and can be removed or reconfigured to change cavity volumes. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The humidity blocking barriers are constructed as relatively simple structures that can be made of thin, flexible materials with integrated drainage paths. This allows effective moisture containment without requiring complex rigid structures, keeping the added complexity minimal while achieving the desired moisture control.
3Manufacturing precision
If the oven is designed with fixed cavity sizes, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the versatility for different cooking schedules and cavity size requirements is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The oven design incorporates removable humidity blocking barriers that allow the cavity volumes to be dynamically adjusted. Users can remove or reposition these barriers to change the effective cooking volume in each cavity, providing flexibility for different cooking schedules and requirements while maintaining precise manufacturing of the barrier components themselves.
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
Enables simultaneous cooking of different dishes with precise temperature and humidity control, improving versatility and sealing efficiency to manage varying cooking environments within a single oven, accommodating different cavity sizes and cooking schedules.
Implementation Method 1
High humidity further enhances the rate of heat transfer to the food as a result of the high specific heat of water compared to dry air, and such humidity may be used at temperatures approximating the boiling point of water (often called 'steam-cooking')
Implementation Method 2
In convection cooking, heated air is circulated rapidly through the cooking compartment to break up insulating, stagnant layers of air around the food, thereby increasing the rate of heat transfer
Implementation Method 3
each cavity provides a separate heater and a thermal sensor
Implementation Method 4
providing effective condensation handling
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-compartment oven provides separate humidity controlled zones using separately controlled steam generators and humidity resistant partitions between cavities. A removable humidity wall may allow resizing of the cavities while providing the necessary humidity sealing and may be augmented by venting control based on neighboring cavity usage.