Convection Oven Steam Condensation and Reversible Blower Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ovens face challenges in providing convenient access to electrical components for servicing, inefficient steam disposal during baking, and non-uniform cooking due to suboptimal steam generation and air circulation systems.
Innovation Solution
A convection oven design with a movable front wall for easy access to electrical components, a vapor collection system with a condensing device for efficient steam management, and a variable-speed, reversible blower with a control system for precise air circulation and steam injection to ensure uniform cooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If electrical components are mounted inside the oven housing for compact design, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of repair deteriorates as components become inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into a removable front panel that can be detached to provide access to electrical components. This segmentation allows the housing to maintain its compact integrated design while enabling easy access to internal components for servicing and repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The front panel is designed to be movable and removable, transforming the static housing structure into a dynamic one that can open and close. This allows the housing to transition between a closed compact state during operation and an open accessible state during maintenance.
2Device complexity
If steam is expelled into the atmosphere through exhaust, then steam disposal is simplified, but loss of substance increases due to wasted steam
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of simply discarding steam into the atmosphere, the system recovers steam by capturing it through a vapor collection system and condensing it back into liquid water. This recovered water can then be reused for steam injection, eliminating waste and reducing the need for continuous water supply.
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the potentially harmful effect of steam accumulation and atmospheric pollution into a beneficial resource by condensing the steam and recovering the water for reuse, transforming waste into a valuable input material.
3Productivity
If water injection systems use complex atomizers with blower wheels, then steam generation efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water injection system merges the water delivery mechanism with the existing blower wheel structure. Water is injected directly into the blower wheel assembly where it is immediately vaporized by the hot air flow, combining two functions into one integrated system without requiring separate complex atomizers.
Solution Approach 2:
The blower wheel itself serves the dual function of air circulation and steam generation. The hot air flow from the blower provides the heat necessary to vaporize the injected water, allowing the system to generate steam using its own operational energy without requiring additional external heating components.
4Device complexity
If conventional ovens use simple heating elements, then device complexity is reduced, but manufacturing precision deteriorates as uniform cooking cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The heating function is segmented and distributed throughout the cooking chamber via multiple injection points around the blower wheel. Instead of relying on a single centralized heating element, heat is delivered at multiple locations simultaneously, ensuring uniform cooking across the entire product surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses variable speed control of the blower wheel to dynamically adjust air flow and heat distribution. The reversible rotation capability allows the system to adaptively deliver heat from different directions, maintaining uniform cooking even as product position or chamber conditions change.
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 design allows for convenient servicing of electrical components, efficient steam disposal, and achieves uniform cooking by optimizing steam generation and air circulation, enhancing the overall baking process.
Implementation Method 1
a blower for circulating gas (e.g., air) through the cooking chamber
Implementation Method 2
a heater for heating the gas
Implementation Method 3
a vapor collection system for collecting vapor from the cooking chamber during a cooking event. The vapor collection system comprises a condensing device above the cooking chamber having an inlet communicating with the chamber for receiving vapor and an outlet for draining condensed vapor
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A convection oven (1) having a vapor collection system (401); water injection system (171); easily accessible electrical components (501); and a variable-speed, reversible blower (61) is disclosed. The vapor collection system collects vapor from the cooking chamber (11) during a cooking event, condenses the vapor, and drains the condensed vapor. The water injection system injects water for impact against a blower wheel for dispersion into the air circulating through the cooking chamber. The electrical components are housed within a housing (831) that in a closed position conceals the components and in an open position exposes the components for easy The rotational speed and direction of the variable-speed, reversible blower is controlled during a cooking event according to predetermined speed curves which may include one or more reversal events to achieve more uniform cooking of food.; A main controller (507) is programmable via an operator input (505) (e.g., liquid crystal display touch screen) to control operating parameters of the oven.