Oven Steam Water Flow Directors for Thermal Mass Rewetting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ovens that produce steam, a significant amount of water is wasted as not all of it is converted to steam due to impingement on a thermal mass, leading to inefficient steam production.
Innovation Solution
An oven with a steam input arrangement featuring a thermal mass and water flow directors that redirect water back onto the thermal mass, ensuring minimal water bypasses the conversion process, utilizing an upright heat accumulator alongside a wall surface and strategically positioned flow directors to collect and re-direct water impinging on the wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If water is delivered onto the thermal mass for steam generation, then steam production is achieved, but a significant amount of water bypasses the thermal mass and is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The water flow director creates a feedback mechanism by collecting water that would otherwise bypass the thermal mass and redirecting it back onto the thermal mass surface. This ensures that water which initially missed the conversion opportunity is given another chance to evaporate, thereby reducing water waste while maintaining steam production efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts the harmful effect of water bypassing the thermal mass (which causes water waste) into a beneficial effect by using the water flow director to capture and redirect this 'wasted' water back onto the thermal mass, turning a loss into an opportunity for additional steam generation.
2Productivity
If water is delivered onto the thermal mass, then steam is generated, but not all water is converted to steam leading to inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The water flow director establishes a feedback loop where unconverted water that flows down the wall surface is captured and redirected back onto the thermal mass. This ensures continuous exposure of water to the heat source, improving steam generation efficiency and preventing energy waste from unconverted water draining away.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention ensures continuous useful action by maintaining water contact with the thermal mass through redirection. Instead of allowing water to drain away after a single pass, the water flow director keeps the water on the thermal mass surface longer, ensuring complete evaporation and continuous steam generation without energy waste.
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 arrangement effectively increases the conversion of water to steam, reducing waste and enhancing steam production efficiency within the oven.
Implementation Method 1
water is delivered to generate steam as the water comes into contact with the heat accumulator arrangement
Implementation Method 2
The impingement of the water onto the hot thermal mass causes nearly instantaneous conversion of the water to steam
Implementation Method 3
water that is flowing down past the heat accumulator arrangement along the wall surface
Data Source
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AI summary
An oven includes a steam input arrangement with a thermal mass and one or more water flow directors to more effectively deliver water onto the thermal mass so that less water ends up bypassing the thermal mass.