Energy efficient apparatus and method for popping popcorn
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing popcorn poppers are inefficient in heat transfer, leading to uneven heating and waste of heat, resulting in substandard popping and potential burning of kernels, while mechanical stirrers often cause kernels to bunch, leading to inconsistent heating and a soggy texture due to steam buildup.
Innovation Solution
A popcorn popper design featuring a reflective surface to focus stray radiant heat back onto the heating surface, a mechanical stirrer with arched arms to evenly distribute kernels, and a cover with vents and a topping reservoir to prevent steam buildup and ensure even topping distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If heat is radiated outwardly from a heat source to a heating surface, then heat transfer occurs, but substantial heat is dissipated to the environment and thermal zones become uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the principle of converting harmful heat loss into beneficial heat utilization by introducing a reflective surface that captures heat radiated outwardly from the heat source and redirects it back to the heating surface. This transforms the previously wasted heat energy into useful thermal energy, improving overall heat transfer efficiency while reducing energy loss to the environment.
2Ease of operation
If a mechanical stirrer is used to mix kernels during heating, then kernel distribution should improve, but kernels often bunch together leading to inconsistent heating
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs curved or arched stirrer arms instead of straight mechanical stirrers. The curved geometry allows the stirrer to gently roll and redistribute kernels across the heating surface without causing them to bunch together. This curved design maintains good kernel distribution while achieving uniform heating by preventing the formation of dense kernel clusters that would experience inconsistent heat transfer.
3Productivity
If kernels are heated quickly to pop them, then popping efficiency improves, but the shell can be damaged while starch remains cold leading to chewier popcorn
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements uniform heat distribution across the heating surface through the combination of a reflective surface and curved stirrer arms. This ensures that all kernels receive consistent thermal energy regardless of their position on the heating surface. The localized quality of heat transfer is improved by eliminating cold spots and hot spots, allowing kernels to heat uniformly throughout, which enables rapid popping while maintaining shell integrity and proper starch gelatinization for optimal texture.
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 achieves uniform heat distribution, reduces heat loss, prevents kernel bunching, and ensures even topping application, resulting in improved popping efficiency and texture.
Implementation Method 1
A popcorn popper design featuring a reflective surface to focus stray radiant heat back onto the heating surface
Implementation Method 2
a heating element disposed immediately below the heating surface and adapted to supply heat to the heating surface
Data Source
AI summary
A popcorn popper having a heat source transferring heat to a heating surface and also having a reflective surface for focusing the heat radiated by the heat source toward the heating surface. The popcorn popper can include a mechanical stirrer on the heating surface for shifting the kernels during heating and evenly distributing the kernels across the heating surface. The popcorn popper can have a cover with an integrated reservoir for holding toppings for the popcorn, wherein the reservoir is adapted to drain the topping through the cover without fouling the cover air vents and evenly distribute the topping onto the kernels.