Oven Temperature Mapping for Position-Specific Heat Treatment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing heat treatment processes in ovens suffer from temperature heterogeneities, leading to inconsistent material quality and the need for multiple firing runs to achieve desired temperatures for different samples.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining temperature distribution data and providing position arrangement data within an oven, allowing precise control of sample positions based on target temperatures and oven calibration data, enabling a single firing run to treat multiple samples with varying temperature requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a fixed oven setpoint temperature is used for heat treatment, then the oven operation is simple, but temperature heterogeneities cause inconsistent material quality across different sample positions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration runs to map temperature distribution across the oven interior before actual heat treatment. This pre-established temperature map is stored and used to determine optimal sample positions for subsequent experiments, eliminating the need for real-time temperature adjustments and ensuring consistent material quality without adding operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements position-specific temperature targeting by calculating optimal oven setpoint temperatures based on each sample's target temperature and its intended position in the oven. The system determines which samples should be placed at which positions to achieve desired temperature distribution, ensuring each sample receives the precise temperature it requires for consistent material quality.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple firing runs are performed to achieve desired temperatures for different samples, then each sample can receive optimal temperature treatment, but time consumption and energy usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple heat treatment operations into a single firing run by calculating optimal oven setpoint temperatures that satisfy multiple samples' temperature requirements simultaneously. Based on the calibrated temperature distribution map, the system determines which samples to place at which positions and sets the oven temperature to achieve all target temperatures in one operation, dramatically reducing time and energy consumption while maintaining temperature accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the oven setpoint temperature parameter based on the specific combination of samples being processed and their intended positions. Rather than using fixed temperature protocols, the system calculates optimal setpoint temperatures for each experimental configuration, enabling multiple samples with different temperature requirements to be treated simultaneously in a single run.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple firing runs are conducted to treat samples with different temperature requirements, then temperature precision is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple energy-intensive heating operations into a single firing run by optimizing the oven setpoint temperature to simultaneously satisfy multiple samples' temperature requirements. The calibrated temperature distribution map enables the system to determine optimal sample positioning and a single oven temperature setting that achieves all target temperatures, eliminating the need for repeated heating cycles and significantly reducing total energy consumption while maintaining temperature precision.
4Adaptability or versatility
If trial-and-error methods are used to determine optimal sample positions, then experimental flexibility is maintained, but experimental efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calibration to establish a comprehensive temperature distribution map of the oven interior before conducting actual experiments. This pre-acquired knowledge enables rapid determination of optimal sample positions for any given set of target temperatures, eliminating trial-and-error approaches while maintaining experimental flexibility. Researchers can efficiently plan experiments by querying the pre-established temperature map rather than conducting iterative tests.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the calibrated temperature distribution data is continuously referenced to determine optimal sample positioning. Based on the target temperatures and the stored temperature map, the system calculates which positions will achieve the desired outcomes, providing researchers with informed experimental design guidance that maintains flexibility while dramatically improving efficiency and throughput.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
It is disclosed a method for determining temperature distribution data (20) associated with a temperature distribution inside an oven (12, 13) having spatially distributed sample positions (18), having the steps of: providing calibration temperature values (Tcalib) at the sample positions (18) for predetermined setpoint temperature values (Tsp) of the oven (12, 13); providing a selected setpoint temperature value (Tsp) of the oven (12, 13) from a continuously adjustable setpoint temperature value (Tsp); and determining the temperature distribution data (20) in the oven (12, 13) based on the calibration temperature values (Tcalib) and the selected setpoint temperature value (Tsp), wherein the temperature distribution data (20) includes for the selected setpoint temperature value (Tsp) a determined temperature value (Texp) at each sample position (18).