Electric pressure canner with digital control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional pressure canners lack reliable temperature control during the canning process, leading to inefficiencies and potential food spoilage due to fluctuations in internal steam temperature, as mechanical pressure relief valves provide inadequate feedback and digital canners often measure temperature on the canner material rather than internal steam conditions.
Innovation Solution
A digital pressure canner with a non-contact thermal sensor that measures internal steam temperature in real-time, communicating this data to a digital controller to precisely control the heating element, reducing temperature overshoots and undershoots, and incorporating a mechanical safety device for audible or physical indications of sufficient canning temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical pressure relief valve is used to indicate pressure, then pressure relief function is achieved, but temperature control precision deteriorates due to inadequate feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a digital feedback control system where a temperature sensor continuously monitors internal steam temperature and feeds this information back to a microprocessor controller. The controller adjusts the heating element power accordingly to maintain precise temperature control, resolving the inadequate feedback problem of mechanical pressure relief valves.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical pressure relief valve system with a digital electronic control system that uses a microprocessor, temperature sensor, and variable power heating element to achieve precise temperature control, eliminating the imprecision of mechanical feedback mechanisms.
2Speed
If the heat source is set at maximum output level, then heating speed is improved, but temperature stability deteriorates due to large fluctuations in internal temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power adjustment of the heating element based on real-time temperature feedback from the sensor. The microprocessor continuously modulates the heating power to maintain stable internal temperature, transitioning from static maximum power to dynamic adaptive power control.
Solution Approach 2:
The digital feedback control system monitors internal steam temperature in real-time and adjusts heating element power accordingly, preventing both overheating and insufficient heating, thus maintaining temperature stability while achieving efficient heating.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the heat source is reduced significantly, then energy consumption is decreased, but pressure maintenance deteriorates as relief valves stop venting
Solution Approach 1:
The digital feedback control system continuously monitors temperature and adjusts heating power to maintain precise temperature control, allowing the system to use minimal energy while maintaining safe operating conditions through intelligent power modulation rather than continuous maximum or reduced power operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically monitors and adjusts its own operation through the feedback control loop, eliminating the need for user intervention to balance energy consumption and pressure maintenance, and performing this optimization autonomously throughout the canning process.
4Device complexity
If a heat sensor is mounted on the canner floor to measure temperature, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to lagging or leading temperature readings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a non-contact infrared temperature sensor that measures the temperature of steam (the intermediary medium) rather than directly measuring the canner wall temperature. This provides accurate real-time steam temperature data without the lag or lead errors associated with contact sensors mounted on the canner floor.
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 solution ensures consistent maintenance of necessary temperatures to kill bacteria and microorganisms, enhancing safety and efficiency by minimizing temperature fluctuations and ensuring effective sterilization.
Implementation Method 1
uses a non-contact thermal sensor to digitally measure internal steam temperature
Implementation Method 2
control the application of heat to the pressure canner appliance
Implementation Method 3
the water begins to boil, which turns to steam and the pressure within the vessel begins to rise
Data Source
AI summary
A digital pressure canner and related methods of operation that provide for improved safety and consistency during a food canning process by reducing temperature over and undershoot. The digital pressure canner includes a digital control operating with inputs from digital sensors to accurately control the canning temperature during the canning process. By reducing over and undershoot of canning temperatures, foods within the pressure canner are maintained at temperatures sufficient to kill any bacteria or microorganisms for the entire canning cycle. In order to verify operation of the digital canner at sufficient canning temperatures, mechanical safety devices, for example, a pressure relief valve can be utilized in conjunction with digital controllers and sensors to provide audible and visual feedback to a user during the canning process.