Dual-Function Oven Air Channel for Flue Gas Recirculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gas ovens experience heat loss and excessive heating of nearby components due to the leakage of hot flue gases from the bake burner into the ambient environment when in 'bake' mode, especially for broil burners with large port openings, leading to inefficient energy use.
Innovation Solution
A gas oven design incorporating a venturi assembly and a channel member that recirculates hot flue gases from the bake burner into the broil burner combustion chamber, providing a sealed airflow path to supply fresh air to the broil burner while preventing heat loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the broil burner ports are exposed outside the oven cavity to deliver fresh air to the broil burner, then the broil burner can breathe fresh air, but hot flue gases from the bake burner can leak through the open ports and release into the ambient environment causing heat loss
Solution Approach 1:
The air supply path is segmented into two separate channels: one channel supplies fresh air to the broil burner through the housing, while another channel directs flue gases away from the broil burner ports. This segmentation prevents mixing of fresh air and hot flue gases, allowing the broil burner to receive adequate oxygen while preventing heat loss to the ambient environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure (the redesigned air channel and baffle system) that mediates between the bake burner flue gases and the broil burner ports. This intermediary redirects the flue gases through a separate pathway, preventing direct contact with the broil burner ports while still allowing fresh air to reach the broil burner for proper combustion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the broil burner has large area of port openings to deliver fresh air, then the broil burner can breathe adequately, but excessive heating of nearby components occurs due to flue gas leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The air channel is divided into separate segments that independently control fresh air flow and flue gas flow. The broil burner ports remain large for adequate air intake, but the segmented channel structure prevents hot flue gases from reaching nearby components, thus maintaining adaptability while eliminating harmful thermal effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful hot flue gases are extracted from the path between the bake burner and broil burner ports. The redesigned channel directs flue gases through a separate extraction pathway, removing the thermal hazard while preserving the large port openings needed for broil burner air intake.
3Device complexity
If flue gases are allowed to escape through broil burner ports to the ambient environment, then the airflow path is simple, but this leads to undesired heat loss and excessive heating of nearby components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flue gas discharge function with the broil burner air supply function into a single integrated housing structure. The redesigned channels within the housing simultaneously route fresh air to the broil burner and direct flue gases away from the ports, combining multiple functions without requiring separate external components, thus maintaining simplicity while preventing heat loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The broil burner housing is given multi-functionality: it serves both as the air supply channel for the broil burner and as the flue gas discharge channel for the bake burner. This universal design allows the same structure to perform multiple functions, maintaining device simplicity while preventing harmful heat loss through proper channel configuration.
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 design reduces heat loss and maintains efficient heating by ensuring fresh air supply to the broil burner without allowing hot flue gases to escape, enhancing overall oven performance during 'bake' mode operations.
Implementation Method 1
a venturi assembly coupled to the upper gas burner
Implementation Method 2
enabling hot flue gases generated by operation of the lower gas burner to flow through the upper gas burner and into the airflow pathway between the venturi assembly for the upper gas burner and the lower burner combustion chamber, and recirculating the hot flue gases into the lower burner combustion chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A gas oven includes an oven cavity, an upper gas burner disposed within the oven cavity, a venturi assembly coupled to the upper gas burner, a lower gas burner disposed within a lower burner combustion chamber. The channel member is communicatively coupled between the lower burner combustion chamber and the venturi assembly for the upper gas burner to provide an airflow path therebetween.